Women in the pre-Islam era had no purpose in society except for actually bearing children. They were not talked with, not educated, never have anything of inheritance, and didn't have to do with anything politically or religiously (for pagans).

A very common act in that era was that when someone gets a child, if it's a girl, then they bury her alive out of shame. Muhammed fought this behaviour the most and taught people that God will put the worst punishments on people who do this. [Quran 81:8] , [Quran 16:58].

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In early Islam (and still now), Muhammed taught people that God orders people to include women in inheritance, and women are to be respected. Muhammed had wives that learned a lot of his teachings and then basically became the main teachers of his followers of the laws of Islam. Women became so respected and took parts in political areas.

Female family members and especially mothers were taught to be almost at third grade of importance when it comes to obeying (after God and Muhammed). They were considered to be 3 times as important and deserving in respect compared to fathers [Muslim Hadeeth].