How have men's role in society changed through history? How has it changed from the 1600's, to the 1700... until today?

Is this a homework question or something? Obviously the role of men has changed dramatically. From the medieval times (1500 & 1600's) men had all the financial and social power. Women were an underclass, couldn't vote, did manual work, bore and rasied children. During the Renaissance and after, the status of women began to change and the thinkers of the time - the Philosophes - believed women should have more equality - equal pay for equal work, the right to vote and to work independently of men. In the mid to late 1800's some countries gave women voting rights. But it wasn't really until the development of the contraceptive pill that women could exercise true independence, pursue their careers and their own interests on a large scale. There had been plenty of pioneering women doctors, lawyers and politicians but it was an exception - it still is. So the role of the male in society became diluted. Being a man did not mean you were automatically "in charge". This is a complicated subject though - the key themes are: sexual politics, family structures and 'The Glass Ceiling'. In most jobs women are still paid less than men for the same work, believe it or not.