2. Many variations existed from culture to culture, and within a given society a woman’s role depended to some extent on her class. Nowhere, however, were women fully equal to men with regard to property rights, citizenship, marriage, criminal law, opportunities for work and ways of life, and other social institutions. Christianity brought certain changes for women. Some Christian societies adopted marriage laws that required a woman’s consent and gave women limited rights to own property. Christian thinkers called for men as well as women to be faithful in marriage. At the same time, however, religious study reinforced the belief that women are inferior to men. During the 1800s, Western economies began a gradual shift from agriculture to industry. Many girls and women began to work in factories, contributing