Comparison of Modern Women and of Ancient Greece

Unlike the independent, ambitious, career women of our society today, women of classical Greece were a little more than virtual slaves, themselves. From the day of their birth, up to their deaths, females were constantly controlled by a master, normally the father than overtaken by her husband. Girls approximately the age of 15 were chosen an appropriate suitor by their fathers, usually a man already more than twice her age (p. 75). Most men spent little time at home; therefore, the wives dominated home life through her skills of sewing, cooking, spinning, weaving, and supervising the slaves of the family household. On average there were plenty of slaves to help with the daily chores, only the most destitute homes was the lady responsible for these duties alone. Therefore, wives in some aspect were more privileged than women in our present society, where the domestic labor is generally completed single-handedly. Women had specific boundaries in society and the events that took place there. Women didn’t have the privilege of voting, and were allowed no entitlement into public office. Although women were forbidden in political positions, they were Greek citizens and could not be violated or sold into slavery (p. 74). They were prohibited from watching the Olympic Games as they contained fragments of nudity, and were only permitted to participate in chariot racing. (Graham) Public roles that women were encouraged to take role in were funerals, weddings, and religious celebrations where they could socialize outside of the home. “A wife’s main duty, apart from managing the household, was to provide a male heir in order to maintain the family’s hold over its property,” The Western Experience. Since men dictated all property in classical Greece, it was a necessity to produce boys in addition to girls. It is difficult to depict the ancient feminine lives of the Greeks exactly, as we have no recorded verification documented directly by them. A number of Greek gods and