Women of Ancient Rome and China
Women of Ancient Rome and China
Women in ancient Rome and China were very different but quite similar as for as their treatment and roles were concerned. In both cultures they were under the protection of their fathers until they married. When they married they were to stay home and be wives, they were not formally educated and learned to manage their households. They were not allowed to disgrace their families in any way and were inferior to men from the moment of birth. Chinese women whether from a noble or a poor family could not escape oppression, but it was somewhat easier for the women from Noble families. (8) Comparing the women of Ancient Rome (750BC – AD500) and the women of China (350BC – AD600), from the roles they played in society to comparing their status to the status of a man in this era; a day in the life of a woman in these ancient times that was dominated by men.
In Ancient Rome the women were not allowed to have a political position or to vote. In roman culture they stressed the importance of the family and the woman was the center of the family circle. (1) Women in ancient China were expected to be house wives and to be completely obedient to their husbands. Taking care of the children was expected for the majority of women in ancient China. (8) They were expected to bear many children and most women were the pressured to bear a son. They had to do the house work which included sewing, cleaning and preparing the meals along with other duties. Life was different for Roman women as opposed to the Chinese wives; the Roman women lived more of a life of luxury. They were allowed to take part in a lot of the roman cultural events, such as sporting events, private and public baths, and so forth. They often went to the public baths these were considered a recreational activity in Rome, people of all ages, social classes, and sexes enjoyed these.(1) Most of the time there were separate baths for men and women, if not women used it in the morning
Women in ancient Rome and China were very different but quite similar as for as their treatment and roles were concerned. In both cultures they were under the protection of their fathers until they married. When they married they were to stay home and be wives, they were not formally educated and learned to manage their households. They were not allowed to disgrace their families in any way and were inferior to men from the moment of birth. Chinese women whether from a noble or a poor family could not escape oppression, but it was somewhat easier for the women from Noble families. (8) Comparing the women of Ancient Rome (750BC – AD500) and the women of China (350BC – AD600), from the roles they played in society to comparing their status to the status of a man in this era; a day in the life of a woman in these ancient times that was dominated by men.
In Ancient Rome the women were not allowed to have a political position or to vote. In roman culture they stressed the importance of the family and the woman was the center of the family circle. (1) Women in ancient China were expected to be house wives and to be completely obedient to their husbands. Taking care of the children was expected for the majority of women in ancient China. (8) They were expected to bear many children and most women were the pressured to bear a son. They had to do the house work which included sewing, cleaning and preparing the meals along with other duties. Life was different for Roman women as opposed to the Chinese wives; the Roman women lived more of a life of luxury. They were allowed to take part in a lot of the roman cultural events, such as sporting events, private and public baths, and so forth. They often went to the public baths these were considered a recreational activity in Rome, people of all ages, social classes, and sexes enjoyed these.(1) Most of the time there were separate baths for men and women, if not women used it in the morning
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