Life for Women

• Sources

  very little source of Athenian women

  especially real women

  all written from male perspective
• Thucydides


  'it is most honourable for a woman to be least talked about by men, whether for good or bad reasons'

  better for women to have no reputation - any reputation is a bad one
• lived a very protected life
• Having a daughter was disappointment for Athenian men

  women were more expensive as daughter had to be secluded and fathers would try and find husband for daughter

  A son can inherit from father and fight in battle
• always have guidance of man

  belonged to father before marriage and then belonged to husband
• Marriage


  social and financial agreement

  bride had little to no say about marriage

  arranged between father and groom

  groom usually twice her age

  most women got married as soon as they hit puberty (14)
• Childbirth was dangerous

  limited healthcare / medication

  women would be very young when giving birth

  Many would be dead by 30; 5 children per woman needed to maintain population
• Women had limited education


  stayed at home and learnt from mother expected duties of Athenian women (spinning, weaving, cookery and managing finances which included maths/basic words)

  some taught to read but most were illiterate
• Only allowed out for certain events


  e.g. funeral, wedding, religious events etc
• Locked in Home


  Women and kids usually secure in room furthest away from street (top and back)

  In upper class, rich families daughters may have been kept indoors most of the time

  In poorer families, the women may have to go out to work
• men had fragile ego


  not allowed to leave house without male relative - women discouraged from going outside as men didnt want people to have her attention
• Husbands were allowed to divorce but women weren't
• Not allowed to buy/sell land - amount of money women owned was strictly rationed
• unmarried girls wore the modest peplos covering the body, with their hair down
• young girls were regarded as naturally wild and exuberant, needing the guidance of the man