Gender Roles In Greek Culture

Throughout Greek tragedies, there is a well-defined line between male and female gender roles. The men are seen as money makers, punishers, and protectors; whereas women are seen as caregivers, peacekeepers, and nurturers. A man’s job held more importance than a woman’s. In the patriarchal society seen in Greek culture, women were expected to follow orders and adhere to men . Defying men would cause consequences because in ancient times reputation was everything; being defied by a woman would ultimately destroy a man’s reputation. Due to this factor, women have been oppressed throughout history by men attempting to solidify their status in society. Influential women that resisted objectification and the patriarchal society caused such a drastic change that women today are now able to vote, work, and step away from traditional gender roles.
In Hymn to Demeter, Zeus agrees to a deal with Hades in which Persephone was given to Hades as
In the play Medea, Medea “apologizes” to Jason due to the fact that she got mad at him for leaving her for another woman. Jason replies by saying, “Lady, I praise this conduct, not that I blame what is past; for it is but natural to the female sex to vent their spleen against a husband…” (Euripides 21). Through the use of the word “natural,” the reader is able to understand that the way Medea reacted towards Jason was expected. He then specifies that it is natural to the “female sex” meaning he is targeting that specific gender. He utilizes the word “vent” which carries a connotative tone of passiveness. When someone vents it is usually an act of complaining rather than a call to action. This shows that when she lashed out at Jason, he didn't take to heart anything she said or even consider altering his behavior. Overall this quote shows how Jason forgave Medea because he connected her outburst to the simple fact that she is a