Read the quote about women in Roman society.
“[T]he position of the Roman matron was quite different from that of the Greek matron in the time of Pericles. The Roman matron was mistress in her own household. As the husband took charge of all external transactions, so the wife was supreme in household arrangements.”
—James Donaldson, Woman; Her Position and Influence in Ancient Greece and Rome
Based on your knowledge of the role of women in the Roman republic, provide evidence to prove the author’s claim that the position of Roman women was different from that of Greek women.
(4 points)
One piece of evidence to support the author's claim is that Roman women had more control over their households than Greek women. In Roman society, the wife was considered the mistress of the household and had authority over household arrangements. This suggests that Roman women had more autonomy and decision-making power within their own homes compared to Greek women.
Additionally, another piece of evidence is that Roman women were not secluded like Greek women. In ancient Greece, women were largely confined to the domestic sphere and had limited interaction with the public sphere. In contrast, Roman women were able to participate in public life to some extent. They could attend public events, such as religious ceremonies, and were even allowed to own property. This reflects a greater level of freedom and visibility for Roman women compared to their Greek counterparts.
Furthermore, Roman women had more legal rights and protections compared to Greek women. In Roman society, women were able to inherit and own property, make contracts, and even engage in business ventures. They could also divorce their husbands and initiate legal proceedings. In contrast, Greek women had very limited legal rights and were largely dependent on their male relatives for financial and legal matters. This demonstrates that Roman women had a greater degree of legal autonomy and agency compared to Greek women.
Overall, the evidence suggests that the position of women in Roman society was indeed different from that of Greek women. Roman women had more control over their households, were not as secluded, and had more legal rights and protections.