Young Women

Ancient Greece

Young women in Ancient Greece were trained in domestic tasks by their mothers or female slaves. Skills such as spinning and weaving, which were key for producing textiles, were emphasised.
They had limited access to education as it was believed their primary role was to produce heirs and manage household.
In some Greek city-states, like Sparta, young women had a more balanced education, learning athletics and dance, alongside domestic skills.
Marriage age was commonly around 14-16 years old, often to a man in his 30s.
Young women would be given a dowry by their father, which would be managed by her husband.
Women’s roles were largely based within the household. They did not have legal rights or participate in political life.

Like Greece, young Roman women were often taught domestic skills by their mothers.
Wealthy Roman girls sometimes also received a basic education, which could include reading, writing, and arithmetic.
The average age of marriage was a little higher in Rome than in Greece, typically occurring when a woman was in her late teens.
A Roman woman kept control of her own dowry, rather than it being managed by her husband.
Roman women could own property, run businesses, and had more freedom of movement than their Greek counterparts.
Despite having some freedoms, Roman women did not have the right to vote or hold political office.

Early Christian teachings emphasised chastity and modesty, impacting the expectations of young women.
Women were encouraged to be silent and obedient to their husbands.
Virginity was seen as a virtue, changing the traditional view of women’s role as being fundamentally linked to producing heirs.
Despite these restrictions, some women held positions of power and influence within the early Christian community.
Women often outnumbered men as converts to Christianity, perhaps because the religion offered promise of an afterlife, regardless of gender.