Roman women lived in a society where gender roles were strictly followed. Each woman was forced to comply with specific standards of behavior. Men were predominantly placed above women as they had more independence and overall freedom whereas women were sheltered. Their main attribution to society was to be good wives, mothers and homemakers. These roles can be observed through readings such as The Aeneid and The Tale of Cupid and Psyche.
Roman woman were sheltered from a young age. They did not have much of an option as to making their own paths through life. For example, education for girls was very different to that of the education of men. “Education for girls was an informal affair emphasizing domestic skills, with reading and writing …show more content…
When comparing the two genders, there are very little similarities. First and foremost, the men were superior and the women inferior. Only respected matrons (married women) could “...acquire the dignity, discipline, and high-mindedness of the male ideal” (D’Ambra pg 13). By both tradition and law, the paterfamilias (the father) had the right to the household and made all the decisions. The paterfamilias was the only person who had patria potestas which was the right of life and death over his family. Since men had the over ruling power over his family, the women had very little say over her own life. Since birth, women had their decisions made for them. Similarly, men had a duty which he needed to fill. For example, men had the pressure of honoring his family as traditional values were extremely important to the Romans. Another similarity between men and women was that they were both “...expected to possess to a considerable degree that essentially Roman quality of pietas, which is untranslatable except as a combination of duty, devotion and loyalty, especially to the gods, but also to one’s country, parents and other relatives” (Kamm pg 148). A major difference between a man’s daily life and a woman’s daily life was work. A woman’s place was inevitably at home whereas a man rose early and worked six hours a day. Lastly, another major difference would be their devotion to their marriage. A woman’s role is predominantly …show more content…
The stereotypical female role was prostitute or devoted lover. In the epic poem, The Aeneid by Virgil, the main character Dido is a devout wife to Aeneas. Dido’s final words are “This is how I want to pass into the dark below” (Virgil line 766). Dido has committed suicide as a result of her husband being sent away. This is an analogy to how women might as well have died without their husband. That they are incapable of being by themselves and are nothing without a male companionship. This perfectly describes how Roman women were dependant on their relationship with their husbands. This epic poem describes the stereotypical devout
Roman woman were sheltered from a young age. They did not have much of an option as to making their own paths through life. For example, education for girls was very different to that of the education of men. “Education for girls was an informal affair emphasizing domestic skills, with reading and writing …show more content…
When comparing the two genders, there are very little similarities. First and foremost, the men were superior and the women inferior. Only respected matrons (married women) could “...acquire the dignity, discipline, and high-mindedness of the male ideal” (D’Ambra pg 13). By both tradition and law, the paterfamilias (the father) had the right to the household and made all the decisions. The paterfamilias was the only person who had patria potestas which was the right of life and death over his family. Since men had the over ruling power over his family, the women had very little say over her own life. Since birth, women had their decisions made for them. Similarly, men had a duty which he needed to fill. For example, men had the pressure of honoring his family as traditional values were extremely important to the Romans. Another similarity between men and women was that they were both “...expected to possess to a considerable degree that essentially Roman quality of pietas, which is untranslatable except as a combination of duty, devotion and loyalty, especially to the gods, but also to one’s country, parents and other relatives” (Kamm pg 148). A major difference between a man’s daily life and a woman’s daily life was work. A woman’s place was inevitably at home whereas a man rose early and worked six hours a day. Lastly, another major difference would be their devotion to their marriage. A woman’s role is predominantly …show more content…
The stereotypical female role was prostitute or devoted lover. In the epic poem, The Aeneid by Virgil, the main character Dido is a devout wife to Aeneas. Dido’s final words are “This is how I want to pass into the dark below” (Virgil line 766). Dido has committed suicide as a result of her husband being sent away. This is an analogy to how women might as well have died without their husband. That they are incapable of being by themselves and are nothing without a male companionship. This perfectly describes how Roman women were dependant on their relationship with their husbands. This epic poem describes the stereotypical devout