Christina Tyler 6-21-10 EuH2000 11:30-2:50 Womens Role in Society: Greece & Rome vs.

The Middle Ages The role of women has altered a lot over the course of history. Beginning in Hellenistic Greece women were not valued in politics or in the household. In Greek homes the wives took care of all the domestic concerns, raising children, weaving, cooking and cleaning, but they did not live with their husbands. Women lived with other female relatives in one home so that husbands could be sure that they had legitimate offspring to inherit their wealth and business. Husbands brought their wives to religious functions or festivals as arm candy, though they allowed themselves to wander with high (and low) level prostitutes when away from their homes. Women in Greece were passed from male guardians to their husbands without any choice in the matter. In their teens women were married to men 20 or 30 years their senior. The only way a Greek woman could obtain a divorce was if granted permission by her male relative and then he received the returned dowry; and a womans worth had a lot to do with her ability and ease to produce male heirs. Hellenistic Greek women had no role in politics; they could not hold office, vote or be a part of a political assembly. This shows how little they are valued within society because men, regardless of class, participated in the citys politics and had a voice in matters affecting their daily lives. Though the plays, art and mythology of ancient Greece would suggest that women had steadier hands in the affairs of men than theorized; many depict women has being a driving force behind major political power plays of men. The Etruscans, who had a large impact on Roman society seemed to value the role of women more than the Greeks. These women were literate, attended athletic events (and competed) alongside

men and at the end of their lives womens names were displayed on the tombs and the sculptures on the tombs showed happy, engaging couples. Roman women had more personal independence and influence due to their ability to receive wealth and education. Education led to independence which led to more choices in marriage and women felt they had more of a right to be open with their sexuality. The image of the Middle Ages was that women were most respected as either virgins or celibate widows, that women are physically, mentally and morally weaker than men and that to be a wife meant absolute obedience. So there were two things you could be, an obedient housewife or an obedient nun. Many women became nuns because the dowry to become a nun was cheaper (though not by much) and because once the Carolingians made monogamous marriage official women had to deal more with their husbands causing shorter life spans; so they joined the church to live longer. The real picture of women in the Middle Ages is that these were working women. Most would describe them as blue collared workers that either had their own business or they worked alongside their husbands. This appeared to bring more respect from men, seeing women work so hard. Often times women could (like men) earn apprenticeships at age 15 to become skilled in a trade. They were members of guilds and could become masters of their craft. This opened doors for more school opportunities but they still could not work in law or medicine and women still had difficulties advancing working with men and receiving equal pay for equal work. Up to and during the Protestant Reformation women were seen as companions; people men could trust, love and confide in. They respected each others equality within the confines of the household. Womens sense of independence rose due to more legal awareness and the growing number of women with higher education. With independence and education came a trend of people marrying later in life. This tended to work negatively because it meant shorter time with your husband, older women (and the children they bear) die in child birth so men remarried more. The population was

largely single women because women were older when they got married or were widows who never remarried. With so many independent single ladies there was more premarital sex and illegitimate children than before. Greek and Roman women were meant to be seen and not heard and to do nothing but have male children and keep a nice home, while women of the Middle Ages were still expected to run the household they were granted much more freedom and options than the Greeks and Romans. The fundamental ideals of what society wanted for women didnt change much, such as family, home life and happy husband hasnt changed but what these societies dont have in common is that in the Middle Ages women could be more. There were more options, women could be more well rounded and have more to offer than just being a virgin or a housewife. The Greeks and the Romans held women back and the Middle Ages helped them shape themselves into independent beings, able to contribute more to society than before.