Gender Roles: Pre-Contact
Before the missionaries came to Hawaii, there was no equality between the women and men. Although social rank (not gender) determined social status, women were still restricted, especially before the kapu system was disregarded. They could not eat certain foods, could not eat with the men and were also segregated at childbirth.
Gender Roles: Post-Contact
After the overthrow of the kapu system, Western common law was introduced. When it was introduced, influential women like Ka'ahumanu, Kapi'olani, and Keopulani were the first to support the western judicial system. Because of their influence among the Hawaiian people, the missionaries granted them special places in the Christian churches, and were also a key part of the development of western law in Hawaii.
On the missionaries' side, the women were restricted even more, because of the theory of coverture. According to coverture, when two people are married, they become one person in the eye of the law, which was the husband. Because of this, the husband was responsible for things like torts, or violation of civil law. The coverture laws also limited women's roles in society. They were restricted to being wives and mothers, took the father's last name (as they became "one" person), and anything owned by the wife (land, furniture, property, animals etc) were relinquished to the husband.
When the missionaries came to Hawaii, the Hawaiian women also had to follow the idea of coverture. However, the Hawaiians did not have surnames. After the coming of the missionaries, the Hawaiians that converted to Christianity took Christian first names, and used their Hawaiian names as their surname. Children also took the father's surname, and the child was given a Christian name that was suitable to their gender.
As the years went by, women slowly lost their rights. The right granted to vote by the 1840 constitution was taken away in the 1852 constitution, and did not get the right back until the ninteenth amendment to the Constitution was ratified.
On the missionaries' side, the women were restricted even more, because of the theory of coverture. According to coverture, when two people are married, they become one person in the eye of the law, which was the husband. Because of this, the husband was responsible for things like torts, or violation of civil law. The coverture laws also limited women's roles in society. They were restricted to being wives and mothers, took the father's last name (as they became "one" person), and anything owned by the wife (land, furniture, property, animals etc) were relinquished to the husband.
When the missionaries came to Hawaii, the Hawaiian women also had to follow the idea of coverture. However, the Hawaiians did not have surnames. After the coming of the missionaries, the Hawaiians that converted to Christianity took Christian first names, and used their Hawaiian names as their surname. Children also took the father's surname, and the child was given a Christian name that was suitable to their gender.
As the years went by, women slowly lost their rights. The right granted to vote by the 1840 constitution was taken away in the 1852 constitution, and did not get the right back until the ninteenth amendment to the Constitution was ratified.
Gender Roles: Present Day
As of now, women are still slowly becoming equal to men. Women are slowly finding equality in the work force and are also taking high end jobs. Women are becoming more and more independent in the household as well.
Gender Roles in the Future
I believe that women will eventually find equality with men. Although there are moral differences between the two, I hope that the struggle for equality will eventually end.