Double Standard Of Women In The Odyssey

In Homers The Odyssey there is a clear double standard in the roles of women and men. There is an obvious distinction between what women and men are allowed to do, the men can easily get away with actions that are deemed inappropriate and unsuitable for women. Penelope, calypso and Athena are examples of extremely intelligent women that are looked down upon based on their gender. The women cleverness is mistaken for being seductress and conniving because women are not supposed to be as tough and smart as men.
The depiction of women in The Odyssey displayes the negative protrayel and thoughts of women at the time. Even Telemachus who was raised by women his whole life speaks to his mother as though he believes he is superior to her. “So mother go back to your quarters tend to your own tasks, the distaff and the loom, and keep the women working hard as will. As for giving orders, men will see to that, but I most of all. I hold the reins of power in this house.” Penelope, a strong woman who is constantly overlooked as weak in the odyssey is the main reason why Odysseus has a kingdom to return to. Still, Penelope’s hard work is completely overlooked by Telemachus because he believes that she is too unfit to handle power and orders her to simple tasks.
Athena is a huge reason behind Telemachus own journey, however when she first approaches him she is using the disguise of a man perhaps so that Telemachus wont simply oversee her words and listen to what she has to say. Athena assisted Telemachus and Odysseus throughout the whole novel she is the reason the journey begun in the first place. Athena used her cleverness and power to give clues and save the lives of the men several times. She is however not seen as the hero of the story, but Odysseus who without Athena’s help would still be trapped on Calypsos