Although the Hollywood movie “300” really brought the idea (romanticized or not) of how the civilizations of the Spartan people lived to the silver screen and to the forefront of many people’s interests, I have been fascinated by the unique history and way of life of these historic warrior people for as long as I can remember. The role of women in history has always been a subject that seems to grab my attention.

 Athens, clearly the “hub” of progress in many ways at one point in time was not however the center of progress for women. In fact, women in Athens were “compared often to children or domesticated animals, women were associated with instinct and passion and lacked the rationality in public life” (173). This view was in stark contrast to those of Spartan women in their society. “This militaristic and far-from-democratic system had implications for women that, strangely enough, offered them greater freedoms and fewer restrictions. Their central task was reproduction—bearing sons for Sparta [Okay…maybe not so great…but it DOES get a little better, arguably better then Athens.] To strengthen their bodies for childbearing, girls were encouraged to take part in sporting events—running, wrestling, throwing the discus and javelin, even driving chariots. At times, they competed in the nude before mixed audiences. Their education, like that of boys, was prescribed by the state, which also insisted that newly married women cut their hair short, unlike Greek women elsewhere. Thus Spartan women were not secluded or segregated, as were their Athenian counterparts. Furthermore, Spartan young women, unlike those of Athens, usually married men of their own age, about eighteen years old, thus putting the new couple on a more equal basis.” (176). Here comes the REALLY interesting part…“Marriage often began with a trial period to make sure the new couple could produce children, with divorce and remarriage readily available if they could not. Because men were so often away at war or preparing for it, women exercised much more authority in the household than was the case in Athens” (176). We can see that the Spartans (men and women alike) were mainly concerned with the reproduction of healthy strong Spartan soldiers, but because it takes two strong individuals to raise such offspring, Spartan women were held in much higher esteems than their neighboring repressed Athenian women. Although, neither is a true society in which I would have wanted to live as a woman, if I had to choose I would choose Sparta. That way, I would at least have a “fighting chance”….pun intended.

Something I found to be very interesting is that when human migration eventually traveled into Eurasia during the Paleolithic Age there were female figurines found thousands and thousands of years later. “Carved from stone, antlers, mammoth tusks, or, occasionally, baked clay, these so-called Venus figurines depict the female form, often with exaggerated breasts, buttocks, hips and stomachs” (17).  This would imply that women were held in high esteem, worshipped even. A far cry from what seems to happen for the rest of the majority of history. Even now, women are still fighting to be seen as equals in the workforce. The idea that back then women may have been held in such high regards is most certainly empowering. These female figurines were not only found in a singular area; “They were not limited to a single region but have been found all across Europe, from Spain to Russia, suggesting a network of human communication and cultural diffusion over a wide area” (17).  Clearly the exaggerated “breasts, buttocks or hips” are in reference to fertility as well. “Their [women] central economic function, together with their amazing capacity to produce new life, gave women considerable respect and, arguably, a status generally equal to that of men” (66). We know that during the nomadic times as well as when farming began to take place women were seen as equals, or at least of high importance among their “tribes”. It is not until a time of civilization that we see men begin to “rise” above women in stature. “…as the first civilizations took shape, the institutions and values of male dominance, often referred to as patriarchy, gradually emerged” (66).  I found it very intriguing to learn about the different “ideas and theories” of why civilization seemed to generate patriarchy.

The first theory was that as civilization began to take its shape, the work began to get more physical. It was no longer simply keeping a garden or small crop, now it entailed “animal-drawn plows and the keeping and milking of large herds of animals” (66). Men were better able to physically do this work since they are stronger and larger than women. Another important point is that the plowing and crops now took place much farther away from the home, making it difficult for women to leave their children and do the work. “Furthermore, the growing population of civilizations meant that women were more often pregnant and even more deeply involved in child care than before” (66).

Another theory is that since men might have not been seen as important in the home, it gave them a window to assert themselves in social prestigious roles. “From these positions of authority, men were able to shape the values and practices of their societies in ways that benefited themselves at the expense of women” (67). Although, this may seem a somewhat cynical view, it may be true.  

Yay - I'm done! :o)