Shonagon was under the impression that men in court were given a superiority, whereas women were seen as less than men. She believed that women should speak up more. Her impression of women was that they were essentially maids and their purpose was to serve their husbands. She explained that women were taught to not speak out at all and that they should be married. Regarding men, she explained that they expected women to all be humble and modest, and that they all acted as if they knew everything when in reality they do not.
