The factors responsible for the decline in the status of women during the period of the Dharmashastras:

(i) During the age of Dharmashastras codes of conduct, which served as the base for prescribing behaviour norms also for women were evolved. These belong to a large body of secular literature, compiled in 500-200 B. C. This period saw the exclusion (leaving out) of women from both the economic and religious sphere. Since education was virtually denied to women they had to be dependent on men for their survival and maintenance.

(ii) The concept that women were inferior to men gained ground and women were pushed to a state of utter despair and ignorance. This period was also characterized by consolidation of religious customs and caste system assuming rigid proportions.

(iii) The Dharmashastras prescribed codes of conduct, which regulated not only family life but also life in society at large. They also prescribed punishments for violation of these codes of conduct. The two most important authoritative law codes of this period were Manu Smriti and Yagnavalkya Smriti.

(iv) Manu Smriti upheld the view that a woman did not deserve freedom at any point of time in her life (Na Stree Swatantram Arhati). Manu's view was that 'a woman, in her childhood, is dependent on her father, in her youth on her husband, and in her old age on her son.' This view of Manu was not just a theoretical idea but also a practice followed in photo by the society of that period. The same Manu also said that 'where women are respected, there is God's delight'. This is a statement, which is in clear contradiction of his pronouncements about women not deserving any freedom.

(v) Yagnavalkya laid down that parents who did not get their daughters married before they attained the age of puberty would be committing an unpardonable sin. The Dharmashastras planted the impression that an unmarried woman could never attain salvation from these worldly obligations if she remained single. As a result, marriage came to be considered an unavoidable ritual for a woman.

(vi) While girls had to be married at a very tender age no such restrictions were imposed on men. The husband was even given the right to enforce the obedience of his wife by resorting to physical punishment. 

(vii) During the period of Dharmashastra, child marriage was encouraged and widow marriage looked down upon. The birth of a girl came to be considered an ill omen and many parents went to the extreme extent of killing their female infants. The practice of Sati became quite widespread because of the ill treatment meted out to widows.

(viii) It was during the period of the Dharmashastras that the status of women completely deteriorated. Women led a life of total subjugation (subordination) and had virtually lost all hopes of emancipation (freedom). This situation more or less continued until the 19th century when the social reform movements launched a struggle to improve the conditions of women.