In both ancient Greece and ancient Rome, women were idealized or demonized in storytelling. Tales of "glamorous mistresses" and "adultresses" characterize some of the ancient Roman literature (Dixon). Like ancient Greek literature, ancient Roman literature also portrayed domesticated women as being highly virtuous to convey social norms and ideals for female behavior. Women's work was defined and restricted by their gender. Women in both ancient Greece and ancient Rome did household work. In both societies but especially ancient Rome, "women were expected to be involved in cloth production: spinning, weaving and sewing," (Dixon). In ancient Greece, the only public role for women was reserved for a select few: the priestess (Rymer). Only one "authentic voice" of a female poet has survived: that of Sappho (Blundell 66). In ancient Rome, "a few examples of women in higher-status positions such as that of a doctor, and one woman painter is known," (Dixon). Female nurses and midwives were not unknown in ancient Rome, as Pompeii wall graffiti has shown (Dixon). Women's work was generally undervalued and generally low-status, but some positions were viewed as downright "disreputable" such as barmaid or sex trade worker (Dixon).

As Rymer points out, generalizing about ancient Greece or Rome is tricky because each of these societies was diverse. Moreover, they changed over time. In ancient Sparta, for instance, women enjoyed a relatively large degree of freedom, responsibility, and even political and economic power. Spartan women "were able to go out in public...

Although women's right to inherit property was restricted during most of Athenian history, at some point daughters did "get their share of the paternal estate" but only "in advance in the form of a dowry," (Thomspon). Dowry was equally as common and socially significant in ancient Rome.
The paucity of historical documents testifying to the actual realities of female life in ancient Greek and Rome complicate any analysis of gender roles, norms, and behaviors. However, the very omission of women from historical narratives and the idealized female characters contained within them proves that women had a low social status in what is widely considered the root of Western democratic society. Sufficient evidence exists to show that women served men in their roles as wives and mothers, and did not enjoy social, political, or economic power in return.

Works Cited

Blundell, Sue. Women in Ancient Greece. Harvard University Press, 1995.

Dixon, Suzanne. "Roman Women: Following the Clues." BBC: Ancient History in-Depth. Oct 15, 2010. Retrieved online: http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/romans/roman_women_01.shtml

Rymer, Eric. "Women in Ancient Greece." 2010. Retrieved online: http://historylink102.com/greece3/women.htm

Thompson, James C. "Women in Ancient Rome." Retrieved online: http://www.womenintheancientworld.com/women_in_ancient_rome.htm