Women's Rights In Ancient History

Women in Ancient History

In Ancient societies such as those of Greece, Mesopotamia, Egypt, China, Rome, and India, women have been consistently been classified as less than men. Regardless of location, early civilizations other than Africa had patriarchal social and family structures. Equal treatment of women was not yet conceived in ancient civilizations. Citizen and non-citizen, free born, freed and slave, father and children, male and female---each had a different standing in law. Unfortunately, the majority of women were on the losing side of the law. In Mesopotamia, a woman's rights were never equal to those of men. It was nearly impossible to be respected if you were not married. However, in the early Neolithic period, women
Under Roman law women went from the authority of their fathers to the authority of their husbands, and even a wealthy, old widow needed a male to supervise her finances. Women began to achieve greater freedom in practice in the beginning of 1000 BCE. Athenian men regarded their wives as at best essential inconveniences, but Roman men placed a very high value on marriage, home and the family and this made quite a difference to society's treatment of women. At no time in Rome's history were women allowed to hold office. In the early days of the Republic women were not even allowed to make suggestions. By the beginning of the Empire many men were seeking and following the advice of their wives. It was all right to do so, provided the advice was given in private and the husband did not make a big deal of it. Respectable women were not supposed to be wandering around alone outside, but somehow they managed to have a life beyond the home. Outside of the lower classes women could not work but they did not want to do so either. In fact "work" was seen as something to be done by slaves and low class people who did not know any better. Nevertheless women were demanding and getting greater freedom. Some men objected, of course, but their cries of protest were in
Lower class women would have to perform duties themselves, but upper class women would have slaves and servants to help carry out these duties. Roman women also were expected to host the guests of the husband in the home. Although the Roman women enjoyed a few more freedoms than the Grecian women, they still were looked upon as a lesser citizen. This theme is repeated throughout history. Even in modern times, the woman is still often looked upon as in inferior class. They often do not enjoy the same benefits, political influence or power as their male counterparts. In the Western nations, women enjoy increasing respect, equality and affluence. Women have acquired a role more on par with males through a long struggle for independence and equality. Society no longer expects women to be ruled by men because they themselves are incapable. They may choose their own paths, become educated, support themselves financially, and choose their partners