Gender and power in Renata, a brief study. Chapter 2: An overview of the state of gender relations in the major 7 powers.

Chapter 2: An overview of the state of gender relations in the major 7 powers.

The power dynamics between men and women in the seven major state entities in Renata are complicated and cannot be thoroughly explained or studied in a the course of single chapter. This chapter is merely meant as a general overview of the differences in gender equality and lack thereof, so that the uninitiated reader may better understand the subsequent chapters in this study. The reader should be aware that many nuances will be glossed over or remain unmentioned.
The Ordening:
The Ordening is often seen as the most tyrannical and oppressive government in Renata. Within its highly stratified society there is however a remarkable degree of gender equality on all levels of society. The examinations which determine if a child will enter the Guardian class is undertaken by all Ordening children regardless of gender. The Ordening's ruling class is balanced nearly perfectly between men and women. At the societal level there is a great degree of equality. The tyrannical government of the Ordening leaves little room for gender discrimination. Jobs are assigned based on ability, not based on gender.
The Sundar:
The Sundar are strange in that they practice matriarchy and patriarchy both, and at the same time. In Luma the society is patriarchal, with the god Juliar in control, and a council of elder male scholars in charge of day to day affairs. Women have no say in government, and are assigned less prestigious jobs. In Umbra however the godess Marele rules like a military dictator supported by an army the officer class of which are all women. Here men are expected to be subservient to women in general, and their superior officer in particular. The most surprising thing of all is that the elven cycles means that elves will spend time living in both of these cities, adhering to completely different systems. Formerly dominant men will find themselves ruled by women officers in Umbra. These same officers will then come under the government of these same men in Luma a century or so later. This strange custom is only completely understood by the elves themselves.
The Dead Sea Collective:
The Collective cannot truly be said to have a true unified culture. The various crews and warlords enforce their own rules in the territories and ships they control. Strength, cunning and success is respected everywhere. If a warrior has there qualities they can go far in the Collective, regardless of gender. Oppression in the Collective depends not so much on sex, but on ones perceived strength and potential as a comrade and fighter in the eyes of the community.
The Crimson Coast:
The Crimson Coast cities are in general quite patriarchal. Though the Coasters themselves would say that the powers between the genders are merely differentiated, with men having power in the political sphere, and women having power in the home. They would say female power over the raising and education of children, over the economy of the household and so forth is arguably more significant than male power over warfare and government. Be that as it may, women may not inherit land in the Crimson Coast. They may not hold political office, or fight in war, or lead men into combat. Women are in a legal sense almost considered children, and are always considered to be under the legal guardianship of a male relative, or a husband.
The Wend Wall:
The Wend Wall's attitudes towards gender relations are much like those of the Crimson Coast. However, the Wend Wall idealizes the differences between the genders to a much greater degree than the Coasters. In the Wend Wall it is believed that the differences between the genders is mandated by the gods. This is apparently in order to preserve the "purity" of the fairer sex and prevent "effeminacy" to corrupt to strength of the men.
The Apex Republic:
The Apex Republic has legal equality between men and women. This is a polite fiction. In practice women are kept out of the political space. The social expectations on women are less extreme than in many other places, but still significant. Women are supposed to produce heirs for the family. Among the elite it is quite normal for women to administer the business empires while men pursue a political career. Some dozen women have made it into the Senate, but no woman has ever sat on the Council of Ten, or been made Doge. Women occasionally join the army or the navy. Currently around 10% of the armed forces of Apex are women.
The Cobalt Order:
As the Cobalt Order emerged from a Ordering Temple the gender relations there are more equal than most other places. However, as the Cobalt Order mostly consists of enclaves the cultural beliefs of the larger society the various enclaves are nestled are often followed within the enclaves themselves. As such although the Cobalt Order has no legal differences between the genders the Order can hardly be said to possess a single unified view on the matter.