The social and legal status of women in the Latvian society has been influenced by its history, geopolitical location and culture.

The status of women in Latvia has undergone many changes through history, especially as its territories were a frequent focal point for conflict and conquest between at least four major powers: the State of the Teutonic Order, the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, Sweden and Russian Empire.

Before the 19th century, women were excluded from the political processes, did not have property rights and were expected to run the household.

[9] Latvia has also had two female Prime Ministers since independence, Laimdota Straujuma[8] and the incumbent Evika Siliņa,[10] who has been serving since September 2023.

[19] In three pre-Christian cemeteries of Lejasbitēni, Salaspils Laukskola and Čunkāni-Dreņģeri, the archaeological material demonstrate the superior social position of males in society.

[20] The exhumations indicate that women, up until the 19th century in Latvia, had a significantly shorter life span in comparison to men.

[20] This can be explained by issues caused by frequent reproduction and inadequate nutrition that their male counterparts didn't experience, as their social position as soldiers earned them the priority of food and medical resources.

[22][21] For two decades from the age of 20, the Latvian female body went through ongoing distress caused by pregnancy, giving birth and breast-feeding.

From the 19th century, however, improvements in living standards, education and health care significantly increased the life expectancy of women.

[23] The variety in folk costumes displayed social status as well as represented the diversity of regions of Latvia and its traditions by the variation in colour and design.

[24] Women wore linen shirts and long skirts, as well as woollen villaines (shawls) and coats of various length.

Garments were made using linen and wool fabric, whilst leather and fur, obtained from wild or domesticated animals were used to fashion shoes.

[24] An increasingly present German influence from the 12th century onwards left a significant impact on the fashion of women.

[26] This is also when the tradition of knitting woollen mittens, socks and gloves appeared, which just as the skirt worn by Latvian women, represented regional varieties through a difference in colour and the use of ornaments.

[26] Towards the end of the 19th century, the first systemised anthropological data was gathered on forty Latvian women from ages 17–60, by Otto Weber (theologian).

[27] After the Independence of Latvia in 1918, Latvian women became politically equal to men; both genders over the age of 21, could vote in the Constitutional Assembly elections.

The chief motive of the women attempting to get elected into the parliament was the passing of legislation that would grant equal rights under the civil and labour law.

[29] Due to longstanding stereotypes of woman's place at home, as a mother and a wife, women were finding it difficult to achieve senior positions.

[6] In Soviet Latvia, in most cases, only members of the Latvian Communist Party were able to hold political leadership positions.

The participation of Latvian women in politics during the Soviet era was very limited, as demonstrated by inactivity in the communist party.

[35] The operation was directed at those opposed to collective farming and supporting the Latvian resistance movements, such as the Forest Brothers.

Women against independence from the Soviet Union also rose to prominence, such as Tatjana Ždanoka who became one of the leaders of Interfront.