Women of Ancient Rome
Legal status of women.
The legal status of women depended upon its Social Class. The law mattered more to the rich than to the poor. A women with two different class parents would assume the social class of the lowest parent, for example, if her mother was a freed slave and her father a member of the republic, she would be a freeborn woman, and not the daughter of a republican. Women were expected to uphold the law more often than men and were punished more strictly for not following it.
Marriage and Family
Roman marriages were the source of many traditions, such as a ring on the woman's finger to symbolize her engagement. A roman girl was considered able to marry at age 14. Often, the marriage was considered economic and the size of the dowry were always issues of debate between the bride and groom's families. The pater familas (guardian of the family, and in charge of all decisions) of her family would choose a husband for her, and when married, her husband would become her pater familia. Even as a wife, the woman would still have to answer to her mother - in - law. When she had children, she would gain some more power, but would still be under her mother - in - law in ways of family rank.
Once married, the woman's most important job would be to raise an heir for her husband. They were also expected to clean the house, and watch children. Depending on the social class of the woman, she might've had slaves to do the work for her.
Clothing
Women wore a revision of the Greek chiton, called a tunica, which was usually knee length. They wore a stola over it; the stola which was full - lenghted and fastened at the shoulders with clasps. A shawl called a palla could be worn over the arms or covering the head.
Roman women would sometimes use hairpieces (old fashioned hair extensions) to make their hair look thicker or longer. They would wear lavish jewlery, richly decorated rings, bracelets, and necklaces. Sometimes, they would die their hair red with henna.
