Women In Ancient Roman Times

The life of a man compared to a woman in ancient Roman times was very different. A man was a usual member of society and mainly is out of the house working and doing business. A woman generally stayed close to home. First they stayed near their father’s home, then later in life they stayed by their husbands home. A woman’s job was to take care of the household and the family. Women did not hold their own identity and were referred to their father or husbands identity. Roman girls grew up fast and received very little education. They had to be prepared at an early age to take of the duties of a wife. As they grow up, they are expected to act behave like adults. When it came time for marriage, young girls did not choose their husbands. They
had no choice to whether they would remain single or be married. An unmarried woman faced many complications. This is best explained as, “An unmarried daughter was considered by her family an undesirable burden; it was her duty to marry the man chosen for her and to raise a family” (Shelton 290). Women are expected to grow up and get married to fulfill their duties in life. Likewise a married woman is expected to please the family. A married woman was not allowed to express personal independence. This was seen as unacceptable behavior. Consequences for Women acting independently is explained as, “Women who exhibited independence of thought or concerned themselves with matters outside the home and family were subject to criticism” (Shelton 297). Behaving like this can lead to abuse or even death. Women were treated very poorly, almost similar to a slave. Women during this time were hardworking and dedicated to their families.