I read Joss' post and immediately I thought that the inferior position of women in the majority of the world is not so mysterious. Two thirds of the world's population come from only 2 different religious backgrounds: the abrahamic religions (Judaism, Christianity, Islam) and Hindiusm.

It seems a lot less mysterious when you look at it that way. Of course, I realize that doesn't explain why both traditions would treat women as second class citizens. I suppose that's a question for anthropologists, there are too many potentional answers for me to make a reasonable guess.