"As regards the individual nature, woman is defective and misbegotten, for the active power of the male seed tends to the production of a perfect likeness in the masculine sex; while the production of a woman comes from defect in the active power"

This quote by Thomas Aquinas shows the traditional view of gender roles in the Middle Ages. He recommends that females are inferior to guys due to the fact that they are the result of a "defective" and "misbegotten" active power of the male seed. This indicates that females are viewed as weaker and less capable than guys, which their purpose is to serve males. This quote likewise indicates that women are not seen as having any specific nature, however rather as an extension of the male sex. This view of gender functions prevailed in the Middle Ages, and it is still seen in some parts of the world today. This quote acts as a tip of how far we have can be found in regards to gender equality, and how far we still need to go.