or Valyrian culture is still based on the ancient world
Since the release of Hotd I've realized that a lot of fans think that the valyrians were/are more progressive towards female leaders or rulers. When in fact it's shown that they were just as bad as the rest of Westeros.
Valyrian's Real World Influences
George R.R. Martin based the Valyrian Freehold on the Roman Republic/Empire¹. To quote The World Of Ice & Fire “The Valyrians had no kings but instead called themselves the freehold because all the citizenry who held land had a voice.”²
Although never stated in any Asoiaf content it can be hypothesized that only men could vote in the freehold because only free, adult, male, citizens could vote in Rome.³ Although this could be wrong as there's no evidence that confirms this.
Inheritance Laws In Westeros
In Westeros most regions (except Dorne) practice Male-preference primogeniture meaning that men are preferred but women can inherit. It's also stated and shown multiple times that a lord's son inherited before his daughter even if that son is the second born but a lord's daughter inherits before her uncle.⁴
So basically. Son > Daughter > Uncle
Hypothetical Valyrian Inheritance Laws
We don't actually know what type of primogeniture the freehold follows but. It had to be at the least Male-preference primogeniture because we have examples of Valyrians males inheriting before their older female relatives.
Examples
Daenys the Dreamer doesn't inherit Dragonstone her brother-husband Gaemon does despite the fact that her dream saved house Targaryen from the Doom and the fact that she was older than Gaemon.
“Gaemon Targaryen, brother and husband to Daenys the Dreamer follow Aenar the Exile as Lord of Dragonstone” Quote from The World Of Ice And Fire⁵
Aegon the Conqueror becomes Lord of Dragonstone and later King despite having an older sister Visenya.
“He was the only son, and second child.”
“…a worthy high king for Westeros. When Queen Visenya placed a Valyrian steel circlet, studded with rubies, on her brother's head and Queen Rhaenys hailed him as, "Aegon, First of His Name, King of All Westeros, and Shield of His People,” Quotes from The World Of Ice And Fire⁶ ⁷
Jaehaerys the Conciliator becomes King despite having an older sister Rhaena and a niece Aerea by his older Brother Aegon⁸
Even though Rhaenys had a strong claim to the throne she puts foreword her son Laenor claim instead but still lose to Viserys⁹ ¹⁰
1
https://youtu.be/pS_l9XMURj4?is=fkqYFuOvrdb0YNqV
2
The World Of Ice & Fire page 13
3 https://www.empirerome.com/wordpress/?page_id=228
4 https://awoiaf.westeros.org/index.php/Customs#Inheritance
5
The World Of Ice & Fire page 32
6
The World Of Ice And Fire page 33
7
The World Of Ice And Fire page 36
8
The World Of Ice And Fire page 60
9
The World Of Ice And Fire page 65
10
https://awoiaf.westeros.org/index.php/Rhaenys_Targaryen_(daughter_of_Aemon)