Women and Sudras enjoy the same status and are not twice-born as per Manusmriti. Besides, women and Sudras are both forbidden from access to Vedas. Only women of higher caste (non-sudra) can recite hymns of Vedas when they are doing nuptial ceremonies when assisted by their Husbands. The origin of men and women, however, as per Manusmriti, is from the same cosmic egg.
However, in the beginning, Manusmriti says many logically good things as per today’s standards. I have provided some of them below. The number before the sentences are the reference numbers of the Manusmriti manuscript.
2.129. But to a female who is the wife of another man, and not a blood-relation, he must say, ’Lady’ (bhavati) or ’Beloved sister!’ (for a person conducting sacrifices or rituals)
3.55. Women must be honored and adorned by their fathers, brothers, husbands, and brothers-in-law, who desire (their own) welfare
3.56. Where women are honored, the gods are pleased; but where they are not honored, no sacred rite yields rewards.
3.57. Where the female relations live in grief, the family soon wholly perishes; but that family where they are not unhappy ever prospers.
3.58. The houses on which female relations, not being duly honored, pronounce a curse perish completely as if destroyed by magic.
5.148. In childhood, a female must be subject to her father, in youth to her husband, when her lord is dead to her sons; a woman must never be independent
5.166. In reward of such conduct, a female who controls her thoughts, speech, and actions gains in this (life) highest renown and a place near her husband in the next (world).
But as we progress, we can see the changes which become harsh and brutal for women. I have not captured everything here, and these are just a subset I have highlighted.
9.17. (When creating them) Manu allotted to women (a love of their) bed, (of their) seat and (of) ornament, impure desires, wrath, dishonesty, malice, and bad conduct.
5.147. By a girl, by a young woman, or even by an aged one, nothing must be done independently, even in her own house.
5.155. No sacrifice, no vow, no fast must be performed by women apart (from their husbands); if a wife obeys her husband, she will be exalted in heaven for that (reason alone).
8.349. In their defense, in a strife for the fees of officiating priests, and to protect women and Brahmanas, he who (under such circumstances) kills in the cause of right commits no sin. (this is for when males of higher caste can take up arms)
9.11. Let the (husband) employ his (wife) in the collection and expenditure of his wealth, in keeping (everything) clean, in (the fulfillment of) religious duties, in the preparation of his food, and in looking after the household utensils.
9.96. To be mothers were women created, and to be fathers men; religious rites, therefore, are ordained in the Veda to be performed (by the husband) together with the wife.
11.66. Stealing grain, base metals, or cattle, intercourse with women who drink spirituous liquor, slaying women, Sudras, Vaisyas, or Kshatriyas, and atheism (are all) minor offenses, causing loss of caste (Upapataka).
11.138. For killing adulterous women of the four castes, he must give, to purify himself, respectively a leathern bag, a bow, a goat, or a sheep.
Manusmriti does have conflicts, and vested interests have manipulated parts of it. Hindutva cult subscribes to Manusmriti knowingly or unknowingly. Manusmriti is not the only law book. Dharma Shastras are the widely used law books, but at some point, Brahmins prescribed Manusmiriti as it favors their rights.
