Women in Athens

1. How did women's roles in society differ from Athens and Sparta?

In Athens women were considered what we now call "dumb blonds" they thought that women couldn't be trusted because of their "weak minds". Being a young woman of education and intelligence and a mind to go out into the world on my own without a boyfriend (which I don't need) and write my books and spread my opinion I find pity from the deepest darkest part of my heart for these women who were treated this way. It makes me think of some girls these days as well who want to be treated like this. Who want to be taken care of... It makes me shiver. "A wife's duty was to bear legitimate children (i.e., heirs) and to manage the household. She was expected to remain inside her home... A woman seen outside on her own was assumed to be a slave, prostitute, concubine or a woman so poor that she had to work. One writer said that the best woman was the one about whom the least was heard, whether it be good or bad." (http://www.womenintheancientworld.com/women%20in%20ancient%20athens.htm) It really makes me want to throw up... they were less than slaves to their husbands!

Now as for the women in Sparta they weren't treated much better. They were allowed to own property and do athletics at the same age as boys in their young years, their clothing was more reveling if it needed to be to allow movement, and had they many of the same freedoms. When they got older, the women in Sparta were still treated nearly the same as anywhere else, maybe not by law but in attitude. Back then there was still the thought of "if you're a woman your job is to stay at home and cook and clean and take care of the children". They rarely got any support from their husbands and basically lived on their own. A quote that struck me odd was this: "An unmarried man might approach a friend and ask if he could “borrow” his wife to produce a child for him. If the husband had all of the children he wanted and approved of the suitor he might agree. It is highly unlikely that the mature wife and mother lacked a strong voice in the arrangements, considering the power and status of adult women in everything else." What do they mean, they asked if they could borrow another man's wife to have a child for them... like it's asking if they could borrow a cup of sugar!! It's sick still!!

2. If the Greeks are considered so advanced, so culturally elite, why do you believe gender equality (equality between men and women) was not established?

I think, and if this isn't the answer I don't know what is, it was because of their religion. Maybe it's because of the way the Gods treated their women... I mean Zeus cheated on all of his wives! I think that the ignorance of men and their modeling the God's way are the reasons for it.


3. Based on your understanding of women in Ancient Greek society, how do you think women were depicted by artists at this time?

I think, and I may be wrong, but I think that they were depicted as something beautiful because of the fact that they were so "goddess like" and graceful . Like Cortney said "woman is beautiful, woman gives birth" so birth is a beautiful thing to many people and I think that it was wanted to be portrayed that way. Many women made in paintings throughout time are naked. Once again "woman is beautiful, woman gives birth"