Roman Women as Rational Human Beings

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Recommended: Comparing and contrasting women in ancient Rome and ancient Greece

Some said that women should only stay in the house and keep quiet. Others said they should be restricted of expanding their knowledge. Was this out of fear? Or was this because men did not view women as intelligent human beings? Few people recognized how essential women really were to the society because prostitutes affected the reputation of women in Ancient Rome, but those who did recognize this believed in the opportunities that the women offered. After careful thought and consideration, women were recognized as rational human beings for three leading reasons. Their vital role in the Roman society as well as within their households, notable performances in the workforce, and their praiseworthy behaviour are all major reasons why the Ancient Romans perceived the women as rational human beings.
The fundamental role that Roman women played within the Roman society is the first reason as to why the women in ancient Rome were perceived as sensible human beings. Within Roman society the young women were constantly faced with several daunting tasks, having to face them after a sudden transition from a young girl to a mature woman. This quick transition forced the women to, in a way, abandon their teen-age years, a critical growing and maturing period in a young women’s life. A young roman girl would all of a sudden have to take on all the difficult and important responsibilities that come with them becoming a wife in their teenage years, a mother and even evolve into a respected Roman matrona. Even though women received very little formal education, they were still able to overcome such tasks in such short periods of time. Pliny spoke of a young woman, wise beyond her years saying “She had not yet completed her thirteenth year, and ...

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...ht into how crucial they truly were. After this is achieved, only a fool would disagree that the Romans did not perceive the women as rational human beings.

Works Cited

CIL, [6. 10230 (ILS 8394). In As The Romans Did 2nd ed,] ed, Jo-Ann Shelton. (New York: Oxford University Press, 1998), 291.

Gardner, Jane F.. "Women at Work." In Women in Roman law & society. London: Croom Helm, 1986. 240.

PlinyTheYounger. [Letters 5.16.1-7. In As The Romans Did 2nd ed,] ed. Jo-Ann Shelton. (New York: Oxford University Press, 1998), 289.

Pomeroy, Sarah B.. "The Roman Matron." In Goddesses, whores, wives, and slaves: women in classical antiquity. New York: Schocken Books, 1975. 150.

Ripat, Pauline, Matt Gibbs, and Milorad Nikolic. "The Roman Household." In Themes in Roman society and culture: an introduction to ancient Rome. Don Mills: Oxford University Press, 2014. 100.

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