position of female slave in roman society
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ExplaWomen were expected to perform the role of wife and homemaker, though within this role they were honoured and respected. Most women were married off during their teenage years and expected to bear children continuously. Girls were expected to accept their father’s choice of husband unless he was “unworthy because of his habits or … infamous character” (Justinian Digest 23.1.4, 12 quoting Ulpian On Sabinus). Respectable women had an important and honoured position as the domina or materfamilias, meaning mistress of the household. The materfamilias oversaw the household, including supervising the slaves, managing property and educating the children. According to Clark, many women “enjoyed home, children and friends” and took pride in their family. As child-bearers, women relied upon their children for achievements and status. As Cornelia remarked about her children Tiberius and Gaius Gracchus, “these are my jewels” (Valerius Maximus On Memorable Deeds and Sayings 4.4). Husbands were expected to be kind to their wives, as Cato said, it is “more praiseworthy to be a good husband than a great senator” (Plutarch Life of Cato the Elder 20.2). By bearing children and being a respectable wife and mother, women could reach an honoured position in Roman society. Various funerary inscriptions praise women for their virtues and wives and mothers, with one mother praised for being the “equal of all respectable women” (ILS 8394). By contrast, male slaves could not even form a family as they did not have the right to marry, ius connubii. Any children they produced were themselves slaves and the property of the master. The responsibility and honour awarded to Roman matrons gives them a considerably higher status than male slaves in the realm of family life. nation: