role and power of womeen in ancient greek society

1043 Words5 Pages
Women in ancient times had never fully reached the equality to men. Since the early time in history the roles and positions of women has improved, but in ancient Greek times the society and roles of women were bad. The women at an early age (in their teens) were to obey their father and do as told. They were picked out a husband, who was in his 30s, and not allowed to meet him until the day of their wedding. These women who got married were not allowed to participate in the public. They were trained to do everyday house hold work at a young age such as: Spinning, weaving, sewing, and cooking, and so on. These women were even forced to learn how to read at home or at school. The men in their lives had complete control over them and what they did. (Ancient) Once finally married her husband also had complete control over all the property, and he would inherit all the stuff when their father dies. These women had no rights and could not be seen in public. The women were basically slaves. These women if they had babies they would give birth at home. Occasionally in a wealthy family if they had a baby they were most often delivered by a midwife. To notify the neighborhood of the child birth, a women would make a woolen strip and would hang it over the front door this indicated a baby girl. And olive branch indicated a baby boy had been born. After the women had the baby, she would show it to her husband, if her husband accepted the baby, it would live, but if he refused the baby would die. The husbands would often reject the child if it was born unhealthy, deformed, illegitimate, the wrong sex, or too great of a burden to the family. Theses babies were not directly killed, but put in a clay pot or jar and deserted outside the front door, or on the roadway. In the Greek religion this practice took the responsibility away from the parents because the child died of natural
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