Comparative Documents of Women’s Social Statuses in Ancient Roman Society
In ancient Roman times, there were always certain expectations for both women and men within society. Men were initially seen as those who took part in government, war, and socio-economic positions. Women, on the other hand, were seen as those who stayed in the home, took care of the children, and inevitably remained loyal to their husbands. In order to maintain these social statuses, the Roman magistrates decided to create a law that would limit the rights of women, who gained vast amounts of wealth following the Punic War, from using their wealth however the women pleased. By doing so, the Romans wanted the women to take their wealth and use it to regain prosperity within the city-state, opposed to using the wealth in attempt to gain power over the positioned males. The Oppian Law remained in effect for twenty years, until women protested for the law’s repeal after the city-state of Rome regained its prosperous status. With women protesting vigorously outside the Senate walls, the men were put to the test to decide the future of their social system.
Livy, a historian near the time of the repeal, documented the contrasting views between Porcius Cato, an opponent against the repeal of the Oppian law, and Lucius Valerius, a proponent for the repeal. Porcius Cato believed that if women were granted the repeal of the Oppian Law, then it would jeopardize the men’s authority over the women. The Oppian Law restricted women in their spending. If women were given the option of free spending, then men would lose control over their wives, family, and estates. As Cato said, “The woman who can spend her own money will do so… the one who cannot would ask her husband. Pity that husband – the one who gives in and the one who stands firm.” Cato believed that if women were denied everything, then there would be no threat to men and their social authority. In rebuttal to Cato’s...