What was tess of the d'urbervilles position compared to a man's?

her position in the book is of a fragile pretty country girl who is portrayed as weak and needy, however on the flip side the men in the story are portrayed as all-mighty and strong and far above woman, although tess is depicted as weak and victimized she also shows sides of herself that are manly, for example the way she takes care of her family and the way she goes off on her own to find ways to get money, she shows courage which symbolizes her modern woman side.