Freedwomen and women in slavery were the lowest of all social classes, oppressed under the authority of men and yet being able to roam freely within society trying to make a contribution. The women who were enslaved in Pompeii and Herculaneum were required to fulfill duties under the order of their masters who were of an upper-classed household. These women were destined for slavery at a young age, completing domestic house work such as cooking, cleaning, serving, entertaining, nursing and farming. There is a painting from Herculaneum which depicts a slave woman combing another woman’s hair revealing that slaves mainly worked in households. Although this was the case, they did work outside and were often asked to do tough jobs, similar to what the men would do. This is supported by the modern written source by Dr Sara Biesel who describes the conditions and the physical state of this young slave girl, as an effect of her harsh work,
Freedwomen and women in slavery were the lowest of all social classes, oppressed under the authority of men and yet being able to roam freely within society trying to make a contribution. The women who were enslaved in Pompeii and Herculaneum were required to fulfill duties under the order of their masters who were of an upper-classed household. These women were destined for slavery at a young age, completing domestic house work such as cooking, cleaning, serving, entertaining, nursing and farming. There is a painting from Herculaneum which depicts a slave woman combing another woman’s hair revealing that slaves mainly worked in households. Although this was the case, they did work outside and were often asked to do tough jobs, similar to what the men would do. This is supported by the modern written source by Dr Sara Biesel who describes the conditions and the physical state of this young slave girl, as an effect of her harsh work,