Considering we are now in the year 2003, it could seem that Euripides was an advocate of women's activism. But I seriously doubt that this is the case. Medea is not a Greek. She is considered to be a barbarian from Colchis. Euripides, on the other hand, is Greek and would not favorably portray a woman from a foreign land as a favor to the sex but rather as an insult to all women not Greek.
When Jason is speaking to Medea about taking the children from her he says, "You must be cheerful. I shall look after them well." This is a reason for the audience to feel sympathy for Medea, whose crying lands her back in the role for which she will be most accepted; the traditional role of women in this society. Euripides couldn't portray her as "Satan Incarnate" until later inn the story.
In Jason's explanation to Medea as to why he became engaged to the princess behind her back, he says, "It would have been better far for men too have got their children in some other way, and women not to have existed. Then life would have been good." Then, at the end of the story, Medea gets to put the shoe on the other foot by denying Jason his final wish. Jason demands, "Give me the bodies to bury and to mourn them." Medea fires back, "No, that I will not. I will bury them myself." She left Jason with absolutely nothing, therefore forcing him to experience the feelings of despair that she had become accustomed to feeling. .
Had it not been for these views of women in ancient Greece, pride would not have been Medea's biggest character flaw. Sure, it was Medea's uncontrollable pride that led to her downfall, but it was society's view of women that made her pride uncontrollable.
In Othello, society also played a big role in the tragic hero's downfall. His faults are those that have been experienced by many people, but society rather than himself largely causes his downfall. The state cannot do without him in time of war, and he embarrasses society in time of peace, a black outsider.