Female Experience and Voice Flashcards
What was an early life indic of male superiority in Greek culture?
Boys went through a proper educational system whilst girls stayed at home under the care of female slaves or their mothers
What do the archeaological finds of dolls suggest about the expectations put on girls?
they were generally of bride aged women showing that was what girls were being taught to think of and somewhat aim for
What was completely out of a greek and roman woman’s control in the normative expectations? Who did have the control?
sexuality
pre-marriage: father, who would pick/approve of a husband
post-marriage: husband
What was diff in the childhoods of roman girls compared to greek ones?
roman girls were more likely to go into education, although only the richest attended school whislt teh majority were kept at home
Why was female intellectualism not particularly praised in roman lit/epig?
It was a skill that was seen as essential for public life, eg rhetorics, from which girls were excluded
What archetype of women defined the greek expectations of women?
Pandora: could be beautiful and enticing on the outside, but dangerous within
With what sentiment does Semonides close fragment 7 on demonstrating its misogyny?
‘the greatest plague that Zeus has created is this - women’
What are the 10 types of women Semonides (fr.7) outlines?
‘long-bristled’ sow (disorderly, unclean, and gluttonous)
wicked vixen (clever, mood changes)
bitch (ill-tempered)
earth-woman (dim, consumer of sustenance(food/heat))
sea-woman (changing personality from happy and attractive, to bitchy and ugly)
ass (eats constantly and has sim attitude to sex)
weasel (unattractive, unpleasant, desperate for sex)
‘dainty, long-maned’ mare (independent, vain, better to look at than live with)
monkey (ugly, scheming, self-absorbed)
bee (the best possible who is loyal and hard working for her husband)
What was a continued worry around women using cosmetics, oils/perfumes, jewellery, and certain clothes from Greece into roman emp?
It was deceptive as to the nature of the woman’s character
What was the underlying assumption that led to women essentially being perpetual minors w their male kin holding power?
they had uncontrollable urges, like their appetite for sex, and bodies (periods played a part in this)
What ensured women were kept financially dependent on men around them over many generations?
inheritance in all greek societies was divided unequally to the disadvantage of women
What on top of low inheritance rights restricted the wealth that girls could get from their families?
the consistently given dowry was paid to the husband/his family, rather than her having full control over it
What was the name of the Greek guardian of a woman? What were their responsibilities?
Kyrios. oversee major economic transactions/decisions
What was the name of the Roman guardian of a woman? What were their responsibilities?
tutor. oversee all affairs and business the woman undertakes
Who were the expected guardians of women from greece into roman emp?
close male family member ideally father or husband
What was one of the best ways for women to access reliable and consistent income? Why was this largely irrelevant?
Prostitution. Often the women didnt chose it but were forced/sold into the profession.
What is the story of Neaira (Dem 59)? What is the reliability of this story?
Bought to be a child prostitute by a female pimp who placed herself as N’s mother. When of marriageable age and past her prime as a prostitute had earnt enough money that, along w donation by Phrynion, could buy her freedom. But Ph took advantage and abducted her to Athens. She escaped, found Stephanos who bought her, they moved to Athens at which point S enlisted her as a metic and became her sponsor. From this point she lived w him whilst apparently continuing to prostitute herself.
Likely not accurate to the woman herself, but Dem had to pose a story that was believable for jury so general accuracy could be quite high.
What were the three different common words used for women providing sexual services?
porne (prostitute), pallake (concubine), hetaira (literally companion; seemingly more specialised porne but sometimes synonymous)
What was the common status of women who worked in brothels?
foreign slaves
What features almost definitely identify ‘the lupanare’ at pompeii as a brothel? (3)
5 rooms on ground floor opening straight onto the street w evidence of masonry bed in each; sexually explicit paintings on the walls of these rooms and the passages connecting around them; hundreds of erotic graffiti markings
How should the designation of women to the private spaces of g and r societies (and men to public space) be treated?
as a generalization and an ideal
In Perpetua’s diary (within (sections 3-10) the passion of perp and felicitas) what are the roman ideals she demonstrates herself fulfilling and how? (3)
motherly role - nursing her baby even during imprisonment
familial respect - showing love for her father who didn’t understand her faith (and him also showing it back), and discussing closely w her brother
facing problems w masculine aproach - claims she has become a man when stripped and facing wild beasts
Why is Sappho an unusual and therefore valuable source? (2)
Female voice and testament to female-female eroticism
What fragment of hers attests to love for a woman who was in a hetero relationship?
31
Under who’s guardianship were women when married?
still remained under father’s
What was pol significance of Augustan marriage laws?
unprecedented extension of state into private affairs
How does Cicero treat an elite woman being charged for adultery in Pro Caelio? In relation to Marcus Caelius?
speaks of her as a prostitute: ‘has openly established herself in the way of life of a harlot’
‘a harlot, but a very wanton and lascivious harlot’
Clodia was the one doing wrong whilst he can be forgiven, should he be found to have consorted w her, for being seduced by the woman.
What was essentially a woman only relig festival?
Thesmophoria, for Demeter. Could have been about fertility
What was the well-renowned relig role taken on by elite girls in Athens? Reference?
arrephoros - 7-11 yrs old, cult assistant for Athenia Polias festivals and worship.
Lysistrata: woman claims to have been one in attempt to make her upbringing and present self appear v virtuous.
What is the only side of the Parthenon frieze on which women are depicted?
Eastern, the most sacred.
Shows peplos scene and sacrificial procession.
