Ancient Roman Gender Roles

From Ancient Rome to modern-day, gender roles play a crucial part in life, culture, family, society. Classical gender stereotypes claim that men are meant to bring food, shelter, finances and protection to their families; women, to cook and clean and care for children. Only more recently in history has the concept of the independent, unmarried, powerful woman come to be less taboo. But how much have gender roles changed since the Roman empire? Although women have gained more independence and influence in society, traditional gender roles still exist as a cookie cutter example for men and women.
In Ancient Rome, men and women’s roles in life were vastly different. In families, the most senior male member of the family would head the household. Male citizens held a higher place in society, making females their subordinates. Mark Cartwright, who has an M.A. in Greek philosophy, said that “Male citizens had three names: praenomen, nomen, and cognomen, whilst all women in the same family were referred to using the feminine version of the family name.” He also stated that women “could not attend, speak in, or vote at political assemblies.” Women were not allowed to publicly have a political opinion; however, they may have
Classical gender roles that women stay at home and care for the household and their children while men are the sole providers have almost gone out of style. That does not mean that they do not exist in modern society. The idea that women are the weaker sex and are not as capable as men is still present in society, as shown by wages and political numbers and stereotype studies. True, women have gained more power and influence in the world but are still not truly equal to men. “I do not wish [women] to have power over men, but over themselves.” Mary Wollstonecraft. Hopefully, gender roles will continue to progress till the dream of complete equality is