Gender Roles In Rome

Expected Male and Female Gender Roles and Consequences for Failing to Adhere in Rome

Every citizen influences the prosperity of Rome and the gender roles assigned to females and males all contribute to the ideals and culture of the Roman society. The necessity to curb wealth, the lack of citizen children and the need for Rome to dominate are among the reasons that gender roles were so defined. The Romans are strict with their expected gender roles and put laws in place to provide consequences for individuals who refused to adhere to those laws. There were consequences, by aid of legislation, for those who went against social norms and these laws were used to initiate remorse among the Roman population. Thus, both males and females that deviated

Women were assigned the role of homemaker, where they were expected to be good wives and mothers. Both women and men belonged to a family, they were all individuals under the power of the paterfamilias which is the oldest living male, it is this person that is responsible for everyone under his control. Unmarried daughters were under the control of the Patria Potestas but upon marriage, the responsibility for the woman is moved to the Manus of the husband. A woman was expected to be chaste and to act with modesty. For women, actions like drinking wine, leaving the home without covering their hair, having private conversations with a common freed woman or attending games without the knowledge of the husband results in divorce (WLGR V 109). Women were regarded as a reflection of their men so they are to be honorable and chaste without being vulgar, they should not be heard. Even though these women might be noted in some cases as inferior, they still participated a great deal and influenced the

Roman citizen males were expected to play an active role in sexual acts, while females, slaves and prostitutes are relegated to the passive role. In a marriage between two males, the man in the passive role is scorned as he is unable to bear children, which is essential in a roman marriage (Williams 1999, 249- 250). For a man to deviate from his gender role indicated that self-mastery and rational judgement had been compromised by an effeminate indulgence in sex. As a result, social stigma was relegated to one who fulfills the passive role in sexuality because the hierarchy and embodiment of manliness is threatened by social deviance. Men who decide to voluntarily accept the passive role are seen to have given up their status of vir, thus moving them to the inferior feminine position. Males were also allowed to use prostitutes, but there were restrictions to prevent overindulging. Especially for upper class males, it was important to appear masculine and not to act in any way that could connote femininity or weak-minded. Ensuring control over the entire household including your business and self-control are all responsibility of Roman men. An example is the criticism of Anthony’s characteristics like overindulgence in alcohol or sex (Cic. Phil. 2.15). Elite men were shamed for using prostitutes, this is because the elites were expected to have a high standard of