The Role Of Women In Ancient Roman Women

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There were various significant roles bestowed upon women that contributed to the abundance that was the ancient Roman society. Women in ancient Rome were principally viewed in the same way the way the males in their lives portrayed themselves publicly, and were valued through their roles as daughters, wives, and then mothers. Based on the husband fathers amount of power and money, their women were allowed more freedom. A farmers wife or daughter would not have been able to have many rights, but a caesar’s wife or daughter would have a little more freedom. Ancient Roman law and ideals were based around “a male authority.” Although these sources given indicate that women and their roles in Ancient Rome were subordinated to their over privileged,
Gardner explores in her book, Women in Roman Law & Society, how complex the legal situation for women in Ancient Rome was, yet the laws still affected women throughout their everyday lives. Women were not expected to express opinions of their own. The male members of Roman society felt that women should stay subordinate and remain under the control of their fathers, brothers, and husbands . Women were perceived as uncontrollable and were therefore unable to vote or hold political office, and received minimal, if any, formal education. Despite these facts, women still held great power in Rom through their place in the household, but in other aspects of society as well. Young ladies were expected to “act like little adults rather than like children”. This shows the level of maturity and self-sufficiency required of women in Roman society. Women had few professions offered to them; the could work as midwives, wet nurses, and nannies. These trades required women to take responsibility for of other citizens’ lives, which if not taken seriously could have dire consequences. This was a very rare opportunity, but some women were even capable of running their own businesses. Women were considered to be the “nourishers and sustainers” . In addition to raising their own children,
The importance of a daughter’s actions reflecting on her family’s reputation can be seen through the relationship between a daughter and her family, and how it is affected when a women decides whether or not she wants to be married or whom she wants to be married to. An unmarried daughter was perceived by her family as an “undesirable burden” meanwhile a married daughter was viewed as the ideal woman of that time, or matrona as discussed previously. If women were not overall important in ancient Rome, the marital status of a daughter would not affect the families reputation in the long term. Women’s decisions were heavily relied on to dictate their reputation as well as the reputation of their

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