Greek Women (Athens vs. Sparta) from Birth to Womenhood

When you begin studying history what is the first thing you wonder? What's the first thing that pops into your mind? I know when I begin learning about an empire or civilization it crosses my mind, how were the women treated? In today's day and age, we as females are not treated equal so I, personally, always wonder if there was a time in which women were thought of as either superior or equal.

Spartans

Spartan females had more freedom than all the other women that lived in Greek city-states. Sarah Pomeroy, author of the book Spartan Women, notices that "we know little about Spartan women, but it is not so readily conceded that we do not actually know much about Spartan men either." (DigitalCommons)

(Sutori)

Athenians

Athens women were treated terribly. Athenians had so much potential. They could become an intelligent scholar, a sharp poet, a strong-minded politician or a creative artist. That is, unless that Athenian was female. Don Nardo, a historian says “throughout antiquity most Greek women had few or no civil rights and many enjoyed little freedom of choice or mobility.” (DigitalCommons)

(Sutori)

Greek Girls

When Spartan’s were first born girls and boys were treated identically.  They were educated the same way. Education is a huge factor in the fight for equality, and the fact that Spartans gave females the right to be educated in the same manner as boys is incredible. The main reason that they were provided with this teaching is because they were anticipated to take care of their own interests as well as their husbands’ when they were away, usually which was at war. While Spartans took a step in the right directions, Athenians went a different route. They often murdered female children due to the fact that there were “too many children in the family.” The only occasion on which Spartans would do something of this caliber is when that child was born distorted. Needless to say, Athenian young men were far more important than the girls. (DigitalCommons)

Women’s Adulthood

            While researching this I thought to myself “Sparta treated their children equally, did that ever change as that girl turned into a woman?” Well the answer to that is a resounding no. Ladies in Athens could no ‘level up’ in any way, shape or form. They could not inherit anything, meanwhile Spartans had the ability to become wealthy. Athenians thought it was not proper for a woman to handle businesses, in the meantime Spartans not only dealt with, but encouraged educated women to manage business. (DigitalCommons)

The Unknown

            While historians are still exploring Ancient Greece there is diminutive information on what role a woman would have played in Ancient Greece. It is inferred that women stayed in the background while the men did most everything. (DigitalCommons) There were countless women who were highly intelligent and were filled with great ideas and thoughts. Despite this their voices were never heard, living in the shadows of men. Just think, what could have happened if women were given the respect that they deserve. There would have been new concepts brought into these ancient civilizations and empires that could have altered major events in history.

Works Cited

Ancient Athens and Sparta: Women/Slaves.” Sutori, www.sutori.com/story/ancient-athens-and-sparta-women-slaves.
"Social and Political Roles of Women in Athens and Sparta.” Digital Commons, digitalcommons.apus.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1030&context=saberandscroll.