My friend keeps saying he is Hindu, but i have no idea what that means.
Hindu is a word used as a geographical, cultural and religious identifier for people from South Asia.
I see, that makes sense now. How long has Hinduism been around?
It started in the 1st millennium BCE referenced with the Persian and Greek through texts of the medieval era.
That is a long time ago. Do you know what type of religion it is?
I do know that if you are a women your role is limited as an obedient daughter, housewife and mother.
That does no sounds very good. I think women should be independent and do what they like.
as the most powerful and the empowering force in some Hindu Upanishads, Sastras and Puranas, particularly the Devi Upanishad, Devi Mahatmya and Devi-Bhagavata Purana.
Ancient and medieval era Hindu texts present a diverse picture of duties and rights of women in Hinduism. The texts recognize eight kinds of marriage, ranging from father finding a marriage partner for his daughter and seeking her consent (Brahma marriage), to the bride and groom finding each other without parental participation (Gandharva marriage). Dowry or Sati did not exist in
Hindus
Hindus () are persons who regard themselves as culturally, ethnically, or religiously adhering to aspects of Hinduism. Historically, the term has also been used as a geographical, cultural, and later religious identifier for people living in the "Hind" (Indian subcontinent). 
The historical meaning of the term "Hindu" has evolved with time. Starting with the Persian and Greek references to the land of the Indus in the 1st millennium BCE through the texts of the medieval era, the term Hindu implied a