Introduction
One of the interesting themes to discuss in the book Women in Classical Antiquity by McClure is the social identity of males and females in ancient Greece. The social context here is essential as it identifies the roles played by specific individuals and social groups. As noted by the author, the book explores only women from higher classes since there is no literary evidence or source to evaluate female roles in lower social groups, such as enslaved people (9).
The role of low-class women can only be speculated. One of the ideas is that these women were more equal to men due to the low degree of social norms, such as marriage and family among slaves. Learning the social identity helps to understand why certain characters of women were created in literature, such as female monsters, goddesses, or sorcerers. Through male and female interactions and social roles, it is possible to better understand how women were represented in the ancient Greek world.
Social Contexts in Women in Classical Antiquity
Gender Norms
The first social context provided as the topic in the book is the obligation of men and women to follow specific rules and characteristics. As noted in the book, although Odysseus was a powerful man, he still paid respect to his wife Penelope and had certain norms to follow (9). Here, his identity is formed by these obligations and his wife’s influence on him. Although it can tragically affect characters such as Odysseus, this influence and devotion to female characters represent their high role and importance in males’ lives. Although it is evident that women’s roles are more limited in this context, their influence is still intact, with the influence men possess over others.
Male Identity
Social identity can be further explored through the lens of men’s roles and representation. As noted in the book, the male identity was formed within several aspects. First of all, men were mainly engaged in wars; thus, war is central to lifelong goals for many of them. McClure (26) notes that war was a way to achieve victory, overcome enemies, and reach “kleos,” which means glory. As the war took a large share of male identity, personality traits also suited these needs. Firstly, all men were required to prove loyalty to their chief commander and other higher-ranking leaders. Loyalty stood central not only in the army but in male social groups as well.
Self-Control
Secondly, one of the essential personality traits is self-control, which means mastery of the body and emotions. This personality trait also has implications for women. The constant warfare and city management required men to control their sexual desires so as not to be seduced by “evil” women that appeared numerously in Greek literature. It is also consistent with some female characters being part woman and part animal. This literature description also showed how some social groups of women were characterized in the ancient period, which is also common in modern times.
Evidence from Other Sources
Although this influence is discussed throughout different literature and other sources, it can be noted that women still had no political or religious roles. As women were not engaged in democratic debates or worship, their primary duties were limited to governing the household. It is also consistent with men spending most of their time outside the house in a war. However, men still loyal to their homes were affected by their households to have power and desire to return home, as shown in Odysseus (9). This is consistent with the fact that social identity in ancient Greece was not constructed in a way that formed a poor representation of women, but emphasized the division of duties they had.
Still, women’s roles are strictly limited and poorly developed in the literature. As male characters are central figures of stories, women’s role is divided chiefly within their duties. Male-based literature mainly provided insights into how ideal men should behave in certain situations, while myths created a basis for social identity.
However, there were exceptions for women in central positions, such as Medea, a sorcerer. These characters are shown to be rebellious against their social identity, which eventually becomes the topic of controversy. Ancient Greek literature provides a degree of complexity in social identity when defining the norms of being a mother and a woman.
Conclusion
The topic of social identity in ancient Greek culture offers insightful knowledge on the representation of women at that time, which is also covered by McClure’s book. In this case, social identity shows the complex nature of male and female representatives’ relationships. It also points to the diversity of women’s roles in literature, as some can be strong female characters like Medea, while others are described as evil by nature and will try to seduce men. Males’ personalities, such as loyalty and self-control, are also influenced by a female waiting for them at home after the war. It is possible to comprehend better the historical setting in which women lived, as well as the ongoing influence of gender on social identity in ancient Greece, by looking at these portrayals.
Works Cited
McClure, Laura. Women in Classical Antiquity: From Birth to Death. Wiley Blackwell Publisher, 2019.