Shakespeare and women

Shakespeare's female characters behave and are treated in a way that was appropriate for the time. i would not say that he stands up for women, but he does present a situation that often involves women having to give into the law of men like Hermia she is being forced to marry Demeterius by her father or face death. This could be shakespeare's way of bringing women's rights to the conversation. either way i don't believe he had any negative assumptions about women other than the time periods set standards.