roles of women in greek society

Each of the sources suggests certain aspects about the roles that women played in Ancient Greek society. Three things it suggests about women are that not all women were of the same social status, women were generally used as slaves or laborers, but were still a vital part to Grecian society. The first thing the sources suggest about women in Greek society is that despite being female, which was looked upon as the lesser sex, not all women were of equal social class. This is made apparent through source 1, where a woman supervisor is overlooking other women. This directly suggests that even amongst women, not all was equal. Source 7 only serves to further prove this point that certain women were much more wealthy or powerful than others. The intricacy and details of the carving suggests that the woman that had the carving made was extremely wealthy. Within the source, the woman is receiving a piece of jewelry from another woman, most likely either a slave or a merchant, which further proves the point that not all women were equal. In source 6, as well, a woman is shown to be performing to other women, suggesting that the women watching the performance were of a higher social class than the performer. While some women were wealthy, most were not, and they played the role of a slave, entertainer, or laborer. Sources 1 and 5 show that women were often used as workers, performing menial tasks such as working wool and collecting water, emphasizing the role of the laborer or slave that women played in daily life. Source 2 depicts a well-dressed woman, which at a first glance, seems to indicate that she was living a good life, but the fact that she is present at a symposium, which is a gathering of males, shows that she is not there as a guest, but more likely a performer. This is also shown through her Aulos, which is an instrument, not something a guest would take to a dinner party. Source 3 shows women preparing for what appears to be a ritual. The presence of