Daily life of women

Most writers in ancient Rome were wealthy old men. They wrote about topics that interested them like wars, politics and philosophy. Very few men wrote about the lives of women and even fewer women wrote about their own lives and interests. As a result, we do not know as much about the lives of Roman women as we do about the lives of Roman emperors and politicians.

Women in Rome had more opportunities than their sisters in ancient Greece, but certainly not the same freedoms as women in ancient Egypt. Roman codes of law dictated how Roman women should behave. In many areas of public life women had no rights. Roman women were considered citizens of Rome and did not need a male guardian or escort when leaving the house. In practice, however, women were usually accompanied by a male guardian.

Women's status

Women were not considered equal to men. Women had no legal rights to participate in public life or politics. Women could not vote or run for public office.

Like Greek women, Roman women had male guardians, usually their fathers or husbands. If a woman's father or husband died, the state appointed a guardian. This new guardian could be a member of the extended family or sometimes a complete stranger. While guardians did not have to accompany Roman women whenever they went out in public, the guardians did have the right to approve or disprove of any action. Refer Image1 and animation 

A Roman woman's legal rights regarding property were very few. Women could not own property. It was usually owned by her guardian.

A Roman woman could inherit land or leave it to her husband or children in her will, but a will was not legal until it had been approved by a man.

In ancient Egypt and ancient Greece, a woman's status increased as she had more children. If a woman bore three to five children who survived infancy and childhood, she was greatly respected. Many children died during their childhood due to poor health or living conditions. Judging a woman's worth by the number of children she bore was not the case in Rome. In fact, Romans believed that if a woman had many children, it was a sign of uncontrolled passion.

A Roman woman's status increased when she was respected as a wise and devoted mother who gave her children and family good advice. Older women were addressed respectfully as matrona.

Most Roman men admired wise and strong women. It was believed that raising children was a noble task. The three virtues of a respected woman were:

fides - faithfulness to family and Rome
pietas - respect for the gods and Roman laws
virtus - manliness, strength and courage

Marriage

Marriage was one of the most important events in a Roman woman's life.

Marriages were often practical arrangements made between two families. Women often had very little influence in deciding who they would marry. Marriage was seen as a way to climb the social ladder. Wealthy families often formed political alliances cemented by a marriage.

Women were often married at the age of 12. While men could marry legally at 14, they often waited until they had established their careers at the age of 30.

The purpose of a marriage was for the wife to give birth to children, preferably male, who would continue the family name, inherit property and continue the reverence of their ancestors. Refer Image2

Few couples met before the wedding ceremony. Weddings took place in the bride's home. The bride wore long robes and a bright orange veil. She was led to the groom's home. There the bride's family gave the groom's family a dowry (a gift given to the groom's family from the bride's family, usually money) and the groom carried the bride through the doorway to her new home.

Women in the household

The Roman woman's primary duty was to care for her family. The Roman word for family was familia. The father or husband was the head of the family. Roman wives and female slaves worked long hours running the family household and caring for children and relatives.

The amount of work that women did around the house depended upon their social status. Wealthy women had many slaves and domestic servants to do daily chores. This allowed wealthy women time to go out and socialise with their friends.

Women from lower-class families who could not afford slaves and domestic servants had to do daily chores on their own, assisted by daughters and other female family members. Household work involved washing dishes, sweeping and scrubbing floors and general cleaning.

The experiences of women were different for the urban, rural, wealthy and poor. Army wives followed their husbands to the frontiers of the Roman Empire where they lived in forts. Concubines and mistresses accompanied their partners to the forts, but were not married.

For entertainment, women were able to socialise at dinner parties with men, conversing with men about topical issues such as politics, philosophy and general gossip.

Women's work

Some women were able to work to earn money. After their household duties were done, women were able to produce craft objects. Women worked with linen, wool and silk and made a number of products such as clothes and household items like curtains.

Women did not usually receive an education and were not able to study medicine, law or participate in politics. Women were able to find employment in cooking, childcare and weaving industries.

Often a woman worked in the same occupation as her husband. A carpenter's wife might prepare the wood. A shopkeeper's wife would help complete transactions and accounting.

Women were able to seek their own employment. There were many occupations for women in ancient Rome. Women owned taverns, worked as waitresses, baked, cooked, lent money, made shoes and performed a number of nursing roles such as midwifery and wet nursing (helping to care for newborn babies). Refer Image3

Women were allowed to participate in religious worship. The most important priestesses in Rome were the Vestal Virgins, young women who dedicated their lives to tending the sacred fire in the Temple of Vesta, goddess of the hearth. Daughters of wealthy Roman aristocrats were sent to the temple at the age of six. After 30 years of duty, they were free to leave the temple. Vestal Virgins were regarded with great respect by Roman men and women.