The role of

women in the
roman empire

Jana Ahmed
9-B
Women of Ancient Rome

– For the women of ancient Rome life was not as easy as it was for
their male counterparts.
– Ancient Rome was a patriarchal society where men dominated the
public life and also held authority over their families.
– While women in ancient Rome were considered citizens of the
empire, they could not vote or hold public office.
– This restriction decreased the visibility and importance of women
in public life and thus not many famous Roman women are known
but some women in Roman times did rise and left mark on history.
The role of women in the Roman
family

– The head of family in ancient Rome was the eldest male and a newly-
wed woman came under his patronage
– The most important role of women in married life in Rome, just like
other conventional societies, was to bear children and women who
successfully performed this duty were respected.
– They were also expected to educate their children and make them
worthy citizens.
– For ancient Roman women from common citizenry, spinning wool at
home to make clothes was an important activity.
The lives and duties of
Roman women
– Typical day in the life of a Roman woman varied depending on the social
standing of the women and the duties of women of Rome depended on
their social status.
– For women of lower ranks, looking after the family, cooking food, and
sewing were among the common duties.
– Women who helped their husbands in their work were assigned the duties
accordingly.
– Women of ancient Rome from the upper classes usually had fewer duties
and more options to invest their time.
– A trip to local bath was also an important ingredient in the lives of many
women.
 Important women in Roman society

– It was rare for women to play any significant administrative

and political role since they could not hold any public office.
– Important women of Rome were the wives of emperors and
politicians who sometimes held sway over their husbands
choices and decisions.
– One famous woman of Rome was Porcia, the daughter of Cato
the Younger and wife of Brutus, who came to a heroic end
during the civil war at the end of the Roman Republic.
– One of the most powerful women of ancient Rome was Livia
Drusilla Augusta who was the wife of Augustus Caesar and
acted as a faithful advisor and companion to him.
How were women treated?

– The role of women in ancient Rome is not easily categorized; in some

ways they were treated better than women in ancient Greece.
– In other matters they were only allowed a very modest degree of rights
and privileges.
– One thing that does seem clear is that as the city-state of Rome evolved
from its early days into a more complex society; women were not always
limited to secondary roles.
– In some areas of Roman society, women were allowed more freedoms
than in many other ancient civilizations.
Thank you