Egalitarianism, Gender Roles & Relationships in the Realms

Steel Realms
Egalitarianism, Gender Roles & Relationships all have a healthy and modern outlook in most of the realms. Few religions express much in the way of specifics (except the Lightbringers), instead focusing on the additions to a union which would make it more sanctified and a ‘perfect’ one in the eyes of the faith. In matters of relationships, women have nearly as many of the same rites as men. Polygamy and polyamory are openly practiced in a few places, irrespective of gender. Women have the right to dissolve marital unions, and are entitled to support (though in effect get usually less than they need). In Elven society, women have even more rights and are in absolute control of their bodies – it is inviolate.

Much of this stems back from the earliest times, when death in war took such a massive cost in life, and the goddess Ezrilus caused the flower of life to bloom in all creatures, no mater the mating between species. And bloom it did, unending, with unintended results. The fertility rate is about 80%. Being barren is nearly unheard of, except in the last thousand years.

Among most humanoids, females are physically slightly weaker or smaller in sheer bulk/stature than the normal male of the same species, and where survival is a daily pressing concern it limits them to fewer societal roles (though does not necessarily lessen their value). There is more equity among those of higher social standing than Commoners. A top-down hierarchy is still the dominant social structure in most things.

Gender Egalitarianism

Origins: After the initial massive conflicts, most of the most powerful that died were male, owing to a more classic superficial medieval type bravado and bias the masculine perspective forced many to needlessly endanger themselves over more qualified women and losses were significantly greater. Many of the powerful remaining wizards and priests were female and demanded better representation among the political structures in the new civilization being built. Going forward. More rights afforded for property ownership (still nearly universal in the Steel Realms), legal standing and recourse, and social and bodily autonomy. This carried forward till it’s fall. It still persists in Rhyl and in the Riverlands of Dunstrand (though that is slowly eroding to a more biased social standing) more than anywhere else.

Current State: Slowly over time, a more traditional superficial medieval hierarchy has begun to take hold. The elves and halflings absolutely reject this patriarchal hierarchy. The ducateon never had it, and their dwarven ken have a much higher measure of equality than their human counterparts in many places.

Males hold most of the dominant positions of power, and in general the cultures are patriarchal (less so in the past). Key exceptions to this are some Pine Tribes clans, Skraelings (and many Halfling enclaves), Ducateons (caste, not gender is the main factor), Wyld Aelf clans, the places like the Grand Duchy of Dunstrand and the Duchy of Aelmir (wherein lies Oerdney – the seat of the High King); females are treated as equals in many things – legal standing, property, marriage, and business. Education is seen to be of general value, and only in the most survival oriented climes or cultures is access to it (though few and far between in general) limited by gender/sex.

Reproductive Rights of the Realms

There is no superstitious nonsense around ‘the miracle of life’ – every day life is shown to be cheap and its flame easily extinguished. It takes so little effort to create a life, that women had to be granted more control over birth control, abortion, and birth practices.

Atypical Gender/Sex Expressions: The binary of female and male conform to definitions brought on by appearance and sexual characteristics. “Krasals” are a form of hermaphrodite that is common (2% of humans) in the southern heartlands and are typically androgynous in appearance; they are accepted there and in the central heartlands without issue. The Pine Tribes accept without issue the “Wind Wending” – those among them with atypical sexual and gender preferences (homosexuals, hermaphrodite, cross dressers and others) both in appearance and sexual characteristics. Those of the Wyld Faith are much more accepting of sexual and gender fluidity than either the regimented Light Bringers or Unholy Trio of Darkness.

Places & Things of Note

Locales with Specific Cultural Gender Role Issues

Realm's Aptitude Powers: Divine, Occult, and Psychic