Greek and Roman women lived in a world where there were strict gender roles, where each person was judged by gender standards of conduct. The men in these societies were placed above women; they maintained control and possessed overall freedom.
Men were active in public life and free to come and go as they pleased, however, a woman's life was sheltered. In the case of the Greeks, a woman's life was largely confined to the house they lived in. Their role was of a homemaker, where they were expected to be good wives and mothers and those were the only activities that they engaged in.
The Romans allowed their women a less confining existence but, the idea of giving them equality outside the home was not even thought in the Roman world.
Roman women were not allowed to vote or hold public office. Society did not allow women to conduct legal or economic transactions without a male guardian. By law women could not inherit.
The roles of genders differed in the Greek and Roman worlds, however men were treated differently then the women, in both cultures.
In the Greek time, the women were kept sheltered by their fathers until they
were married, when they then kept house for their husband and children and commanding the slaves as directed by their husbands. Once married, the man laid down the rules and stated what was expected of her and she was to obey. Romans treated their women a little differently; they let them have some equality outside the home.
Although it varied in ancient society in Sparta it was required for a man to marry; and in Greece society expected women to marry when they became of age which was about 16. Their fathers and prospective husbands arranged this marriage. Women passed from one master to another. During their marriage the seclusion of women was common among Athenians as well.
While boys were allowed to learn in school, girls were not allowed to go to school, and when they grew up they were not allowed to speak in public. Women were considered inferior to men. The women of ancient Greece were often educated at home by their husbands or brothers only to help educate their children. The Hetaera was a group of women trained as prostitutes; these women were educated outside the home in the arts of entertaining and conversation. This enabled them to sit and have conversations with men during festivals where they needed to have a higher education.
Married women were allowed to associate with other women but could not associate with men. For the unmarried women such as the Heteras, they were like call girls, and were the man's entertainment and were allowed certain rights.
The unmarried women had occupations. Some were slaves, but most were prostitutes. The Hetaeras were trained in dance and conversation. Some worked as dancers, poets, midwives, or entertainers.
The role of women in Greek myth was larger than their role in real life; the Goddesses and heroines in their myths were often strong and powerful. Diana for one was considered a huntress fierce in the hunt and an adamant virgin forced Zeus her father to promise that she should never marry. Athena had a city called by her name and was a Goddess of wisdom; Helen of Troy set off the battle 10 year battle of Troy and Greece. However of the Olympian Goddesses Hera clearly personifies the woman's role in these ancient cultures. The Goddess of marriage, childbirth and the wife of Zeus; she keeps to the home presiding over the family while Zeus is well known for his adulterous affairs.
