Can you improve on this system?

you can say what you like, but white man gave women rights.

obviously it was from a man's perspective (and an ignorant sounding one at that)! any culture that sees half its population as "property" - and to my knowledge, they all did, if not do, is/ was undeveloped. if things only work well for less than half of the populace, that's hardly desirable.
no i don't rightly know what women's fate was, among native indian peoples. however, it didn't sound respectful, sensitive or fair to women in the OP.
my point is, yes i know "patriarchy" is the system seen to benefit white middle aged males, but out of "white" culture, there at least seems to be a recognition of women's rights, and an acceptance of women in their own right, not just as mothers or chattels. we have the freedom to be not the property of men.
here's one story of native women; http://www.bluecloud.org/role.html