"Failure to maintain a proper relationship would result in disharmony and a breakdown of all the rules of propriety" (Zhao 99). Thus, women were always expected to be in complete suppression to their male counterparts.
From Lessons for a Woman by Ban Zhao (45-120 C.E.), it was clear that women did not acquire a status equal to that of men. "On the third day after the birth of a girl the ancients observed three customs: first to place the baby below the bed; second to give her a potsherd with which to play; and third to announce her birth to her ancestors by an offering" (Zhao 99). Each custom symbolized a way in which the new born girl should behave later in life. First, her primary duty was to humble herself before others. Second, she should practice labor and consider it her primary duty to be industrious. And third, her primary duty to the continuation of the observance of worship in the home. (Zhao 99). These were the three fundamentals of life that, if a woman followed, would allow her to avoid disgrace upon herself and her family name.
During the Song Dynasty, the mixture of Buddhist ideas and influence on traditional Confucian values gave rise to Neo-Confucianism. However, this new philosophy still subject women to patriarchal social structures. This reflected a concern to preserve family fortunes through enhanced family solidarity (Bentley 290). Aside from a strong patriarchal social structure, foot binding of women's feet became popular. "Foot binding involved the tight wrapping of young girls' feet with strips of cloth that prevented natural growth of the bones and resulted in tiny, malformed, curved feet" (Bentley 290). Women whose feet were bounded could not walk naturally or easily. Wealthy families often did this to their daughters to enhance their attractiveness and gain increased control over the girls' behavior (Bentley 290). .
Being bound to home and under the control of men appears to take away a woman's chance at learning and gaining intellect.