In a dialogue with a man named Singala, the Buddha outlined some of the duties that people owe one another.  In describing the duties owed to women and servants, the Buddha was far in advance of his time:  no other known teacher in ancient times expressed as much consideration for these classes.

          A husband should serve his wife in five ways:  by honoring her; by respecting her; by remaining faithful to her; by giving her charge of the home; and by duly giving her adornments.  And thus serviced by her husband a wife should care for him in five ways:  she should be efficient in her household tasks; she should manage her servants well; she should be chaste; she should take care of the goods he brings home; and she should be skillful and untiring in all her duties . . . .

          A master should serve his slaves and servants in five ways:  he should assign them work in proportion to their strength; he should give them due food and wages; he should care for them in sickness; he should share especially tasty luxuries with them; and he should give them holidays at due intervals.  Thus served by their master they should care for him in five ways: they should get up before him; they should go to bed after him; they should be content with what he gives them; they should do their work well; and they should spread abroad his praise and good name.

SOURCE:  Ainslie T. Embree, ed., Sources of Indian Tradition, 2d ed., vol. 1 (New York:  Columbia University Press, 1988), p. 124.