Why does "the Good Earth" reveal about the status of women in traditional Chinese culture?

The women in the novel are potrayed as an intergral part of the traditional Chinese family. They stand at the core of the family unit, providing support and order. Outside of the home, they're subservient to the male head of household, but within the home they are the actual "boss" of their households.

The text embodies the traditional role of women in China. Men were of course considered the masters of both their households and society, but it was the women who influenced and controlled the foundation of their homes and society.