Women Status and Roles in Greek Literature



Women Status and Role in Greek Literature

Introduction

In any society, at any time, relationships are intimately linked to social status of both sexes, and especially that of women. The ancient civilizations of Greece, Ramel and Egypt varied in their treatment of women. Greece and Rome had more of a conservative idea of women's place in society and women were dominated by men. Egypt, on the other hand, was very ahead of its time in the treatment of women. Today, in History, we have been looking at the role of women in Greek society. We do not know a great deal about Greek women because most of the evidence is about men. For instance, the majority of Greek vases depict the lives of men or gods rather than women. As part of studies in Greek society, and specifically at the place of gender studies, there are some common, some a bit unusual, however, other more frequented. Over the past few weeks, we have examined a great deal of evidence from Greek pots. In this paper, we will compose some writing to explain what we had found out. Secondary data will be used, and we will try to ensure we made clear what class of women we were talking about, highlighting the lack of evidence also expressing uncertainty at the evidence we have.

Thesis Statement

Woman was despised and battered Helena for being a Female.Discussion

Greek Literature states that, in Ancient Greece women were seen as the property men. Women had a different role in ancient Greek society than they do today. In ancient Greek society, only native male Greeks were considered citizens. Women obtained power only when they are married to an influential citizen, or by their relation to an influential man. The main role of women in the society was child bearing and raising. Their activities were restricted to mainly within the realm of the family. Within the family, they perform house chores such as spinning, weaving, cooking and taking care of the children. They had little if any social or legal rights. Viewed as more than the (weaker sex, the Greek male saw the female was almost a different species, a tool to propagate the population; however, Greek women were considered citizens and therefore had the protection of the law and could not be sold into slavery.

Women were to be protected and controlled. Women were under the control of their fathers until they were married (normally around fourteen and fifteen years of age), and then they were subservient to their husbands. It was not an uncommon practice for girls to be abandoned after birth; normally placed in a clay pot and left on the side of the road to die of exposure. Greek woman also did not receive any formal education beyond that of learning domestic duties. When a girl was married off she would be given a dowry (material passions, sometimes including land) and this was added to property of her ...