The Role Of Women In The Family

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Recommended: Roles of women in greek and roman culture

Erin McGarrity
Dr. Nimchuk
HIS 280
May 6, 2014

Why did the roles of women in the family take the shape they did in different societies?

In both modern-day Greece and Rome, the respective roles of women in the family have made remarkably progressive strides. However, in order to fully comprehend the span of the development that the roles of women in the household have undergone, one must closely examine the specific reasons that these roles took the shape that they did in their particular societies. Multiple factors formed women’s roles in the family in both of these civilizations, and much of the reduction of women’s liberty outside of the home stems from the basic and widespread tenet of male supremacy in all areas of life, including the social sphere and the private households of the non-elite members of society. This popular practice of patriarchy was extremely dominant in the social arena in both societies, and, on the other hand, female power and status was often minimized and put on the backburner in terms of societal foundations. While both ancient Grecian and Roman women were surely crucial in various aspects of life outside the family, even those not belonging to royal families, they continued to stay inferior to their male partners and less instrumental as a whole in making important family decisions. Three of the main factors and belief systems that shaped the roles of women in the family in both ancient Rome and ancient Greece were those of the law, marriage, and motherhood.
One of the tenets that played a large part in shaping the role of women in ancient Roman society was that of patria potestas, or “the power wielded by [the] father as head of the household (familia).” A household in ancient Rome was considere...

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...em of their basic freedoms in matrimony, and depriving them of any degree of personhood once they had children contributed to this society’s widely accepted understanding that women should always remain inferior to their husbands. Generally, patriarchy was the most critical framework in the social atmosphere of both ancient Rome and ancient Greece, but the primary difference between the two societies lies in the lenience and degree of autonomy allotted for women. Beyond any shadow of doubt, women were generally overlooked and under-acknowledged for their significance within the social and family structures of their respective regions, and they were intentionally disconnected from public life. However, ancient Rome demonstrates much more progressive perspectives on the women’s roles in the family when compared to the much more restrictive customs of ancient Greece.

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