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Submitted by supervillain666 on August 8, 2007
Category: Social Issues
Words: 2516 | Pages: 11
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Hypothesis
Egyptian women experienced greater rights and freedoms than their Roman sisters however their primary role still centred around the home.
Introduction
Throughout history women have continually been held an inferior position to that of men. In ancient Egypt however, both men and women theoretically held the same legal rights, freedoms and opportunities with mutually agreed roles within the family and society. By comparison Roman women in their society had far fewer rights and were treated with a total disregard for what is now described as human decency.
Another notable difference between these cultures is that women in Egypt could also obtain political power equal to that of men given the right circumstances. Some more prominent examples of women who attained more exceptional roles are the queens Hatshepsut, Cleopatra VII, Nefertiti, Tiy. (Jones, 2006)(Bunson, 1991, p. 214-218). Roman women on the other hand were unable to achieve any kind of significant power, be it over personal possessions, in the home or legal rights. These women were considered objects in a chauvinistic patriarchal society.
For their time, it appears that the women of Egypt were considerably liberated compared to that of the women in Rome
Egyptian women
Egypt treated its women better than any of the other major civilizations of the ancient world. The Egyptians believed that joy and happiness were legitimate goals of life and regarded home and family as the major source of delight. (Piccione)
Egyptian society is of the few ancient societies that held their women in a position similar if not equal to that of their men. They, in theory at least, are seen to have enjoyed all the same rights and freedoms as that of their men.
The queen wielded a considerable amount of power politically and were also the high priestess (Bunson, 1991 p. 214). All other women had little political power, but...
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