what is the bible's view of women?

In the first century women had very few rights, not only in the ancient pagan world but also among the apostate Jewish community. Were Peter and the early Christians advocating the then prevalent view of women?
Peter wrote at 1 Peter 3:7
“You husbands,in the same way,continue dwelling with them according to knowledge.Assign them honor as to a weaker vessel, the feminine one, since they are also heirs with you of the undeserved favor of life, in order for your prayers not to be hindered.”
How would first-century readers of Peter’s words construe the term “weaker vessel”?
In calling women the “weaker vessel,” Peter was not degrading women, for the expression implied that the husband too was a fragile or weak vessel. Other Bible texts use similar imagery in referring to both women and men, such as “earthen vessels” (2 Corinthians 4:7) and “vessels of mercy” (Romans 9:23).
If anything, Peter’s words would have been viewed as elevating the status of women. In Peter’s day respect for women hardly existed. As God had long before foreseen, husbands often dominated and abused their wives physically, sexually, and emotionally. (Genesis 3:16) Thus, Peter’s counsel to Christian husbands implied, in effect: Do not exploit the power worldly society has given men.Peter exhorted husbands to “continue dwelling in like manner with them [their wives] according to knowledge.” “In like manner” to whom? In previous verses Peter was discussing Christ’s loving care for his followers, and he instructed husbands to care for their wives “in like manner.” (1 Peter 2:21-25; 3:7) Christ always placed his disciples’ welfare and interests ahead of his own personal desires and preferences. He was interested in their spiritual and physical welfare, and he took their limitations into consideration. Husbands are to imitate Christ’s loving example, to behave toward their wives “in like manner.”