The role of women has been changing throughout history to the present times. Different societies assign different roles to women and have varied expectations from them. Gender inequality was so common in the historical times than it is currently. Han and Rome's empires had elites who put restrictions on the roles of women in the society. Women were not allowed to participate in many activities in the community for which men were involved. The women had to adhere to the various norms of the society as was expected of them at all times. During 25 and 27 BCE, women endured hard times in the community due to many norms that promoted gender inequality. While the Rome Empire expected the women to run their household and keep off from owning wealth and voting, the Han Empire expected them to show humility, respect, and obedience to their husbands.
The Roman elites did not allow women to inherit and keep much wealthy as men cloud do. Any attempt by the women to seek freedom to allow them to inherit and keep wealth was always opposed by the leaders who felt that women could increase their control over men should they be allowed to inherit more wealth. Women were expected to stay at home and run their households (Cato, p. 10). They were to ensure that everything at home, all the domestic work, was done and the family kept happily. The participation of women in the matters of the public was limited. Politics and lawmaking was not part of the duty of women as the norms did not allow them to be involved in any public matters. They were not to get concerned with any political matter that was going on in the empire because their main role was to be at home and do the household chores.
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Women were treated with a lot of inferiority and control. They were to be under a guardian at all times, where the guardian was to be a man, either a brother, parent or husband. The Roman Empire also restricted the ability of the women to participate in economic activities such as businesses freely. They were not expected to have even any private business unless they first had a male guardian (Cato, p. 12). Government forums and assemblies were out of reach for the women in the Roman Empire. Participation in the street protest was viewed as a plot by the women to put limits to their freedom and seek to participate in the matters of the public against the norms of the empire. At no point were women allowed to engage in any activity that could make them equal to men. The elites feared that giving women equal rights as men would make them appear superior to men. The participation of the women in any activity that is away from the domestic family matters was unacceptable and seen as a plot by the women to be equals to men. Seeking to change the law and vote were some of the areas where women were not supposed to be concerned with because it did not involve matters of the family.
The Han elites expected women to show a lot of humility and obedience to the men. Women were regarded as weak and lowly humans who have the primary duty to humble themselves before the men. A woman had to maintain high levels of humility and show respect for other people (Zhao, p. 9). She was to do god always and keep calm even if someone did something evil to her. The women were also expected to be industrious, always going to bed late and rising early to do the domestic duties. They were to be the servants of their husbands, a responsibility they were to do with correct manners and upright character. Al these rules were to be followed by women if they were to be referred to as women of character and reputation.
The women were to be controlled by their husbands as they always remain under the authority of the husbands. The relationship between the wife and the husband was based on the ability of the wife to serve the husband and husband’s ability to control the wife. If a woman loses the ability to serve her husband, then the order of marriage had been destroyed. Boys were taught to read history so that they could understand how to exert their authorities over women. Women were judged by the account of their beauty and gentleness. A woman was to remain gentle at all times, showing a lot of respect and humility to the husbands. Han elites expected four qualifications from women. These included the virtue for women, use of womanly words, womanly work and bearing (Zhao, p. 15). They were expected to control their behavior and emotions and use polite words while talking. The qualifications determined the virtue of women and no woman was expected to be without any of the four qualifications. The women were also expected to follow the commands of men even if they were wrong. As long as a man had spoken, the women had to obey unquestionably.
In conclusion, both the Rome and Han Empires had assigned women specific gender roles which they were expected to fulfil. The women were the family figure and had to remain home doing the household duties. Participation in politics and public matters were not allowed for women in the Roman Empire. Humility, respect being a servant to the husbands were the key expectations from the women in the Han Empire.
References
Reese, L. (2018). Female fury in the forum. Women in World History Curriculum. Retrieved from: http://www.womeninworldhistory.com/lesson10.html
Women’s Life in Greece & Rome. Retrieved from: http://womenshistory.about.com/gi/o.htm?zi=1/XJ&zTi=1&sdn=womenshistory&cdn=education&tm=71&gps=210_6_1366_618&f=00&tt=14&bt=3&bts=33&zu=http%3A//www.stoa.org/diotima/anthology/wlgr/wlgr- philosophers.shtml
