Upon my first research of this topic I found the societal role of men and women in ancient Greece is much different than the role of men and women today. Before women earned the right to vote in 1957, men had the upper hand. It was traditionally a male-dominate society; public life was for men and private life and the home was for the women. (Hitton). After voting, however, and the turn of the 20th century women and men are basically the same. Women can now represent prominently in business and at all levels of the government, and also inherit property equal to that of men from their families upon marriage. (Hitton)
Reflections that come from these facts are understood. When I say understood I mean I get why it was a male dominated society at first. If you think about how Greece was formed you think back to trading among the sea and sea related customs, not very welcoming for a women at that age and time. Then, being that Greece is so hilly, a house would be harder to maintain than it is today in Greece. Women would have to put more into preparation of meals and into cleaning. So, personally I think it makes sense that this is how ancient Greece started off. I also think the advancement was obviously necessary and came at the time for women to really start showing off what they are capable of.
However, after doing further research on the roles of men and women in Greece today I came across a saddening discovery. A woman who is Greek-American, Stephanie Kordas, has come to know Greece as a tourist and resident and her insights on being a female resident are contradicting to being equal. She uses the phrases; “There is passion for the feminine, but no real love for the female, admiration for the lady, but contempt for the women. Ad educated women is doomed in the face of a sweet ignorant one, the experienced one scores far fewer points than the innocent.” (Kordas). This expression of words really through me for a loop so I continued reading; her paragraphs are titled ‘The Rules of Dating’, ‘Do You Really Want to Walk Down that Aisle?”, ‘The working women in Greece’, ‘How Greece Really Operates’, and then in conclusion.
In summary of Stephanie’s insights I found out that in Greece a women should accept her husband’s infidelities with no complaint, as long as he is discrete. (Kordas) But if the situation became reversed the man would be looked at like a fool, and immediately divorce his wife. Greek men will also be attracted to women who look less self confident and strong. Then the work force is not much better, in general Greek women will be overworked, underpaid, and can be replaced easily. (Kordas). However, the way Greece operates is just as cruel to men as it is women overall.
Regardless of your gender if you want to make money in Greece you have to do it illegally. Between huge fines and red tape nothing would ever get done and you would get nowhere in life. (Kordas). But in Greece’s defense it is easy to make fun of. It is a small country going through huge changes in a short period of time, Greece today is an interesting and frustrating combination of the old and the new, and it can take a lot of courage to live in the enigmatic land.
Sources:
Hitton, S. (n.d.). Social Culture of Greece. Retrieved February 24, 2015, from http://traveltips.usatoday.com/social-culture-greece-17532.html
Kordas, S. (n.d.). What Greece is Really Like (for Women). Retrieved February 24, 2015, from http://www.greecetravel.com/kordas/forwomen.htm
Reflections that come from these facts are understood. When I say understood I mean I get why it was a male dominated society at first. If you think about how Greece was formed you think back to trading among the sea and sea related customs, not very welcoming for a women at that age and time. Then, being that Greece is so hilly, a house would be harder to maintain than it is today in Greece. Women would have to put more into preparation of meals and into cleaning. So, personally I think it makes sense that this is how ancient Greece started off. I also think the advancement was obviously necessary and came at the time for women to really start showing off what they are capable of.
However, after doing further research on the roles of men and women in Greece today I came across a saddening discovery. A woman who is Greek-American, Stephanie Kordas, has come to know Greece as a tourist and resident and her insights on being a female resident are contradicting to being equal. She uses the phrases; “There is passion for the feminine, but no real love for the female, admiration for the lady, but contempt for the women. Ad educated women is doomed in the face of a sweet ignorant one, the experienced one scores far fewer points than the innocent.” (Kordas). This expression of words really through me for a loop so I continued reading; her paragraphs are titled ‘The Rules of Dating’, ‘Do You Really Want to Walk Down that Aisle?”, ‘The working women in Greece’, ‘How Greece Really Operates’, and then in conclusion.
In summary of Stephanie’s insights I found out that in Greece a women should accept her husband’s infidelities with no complaint, as long as he is discrete. (Kordas) But if the situation became reversed the man would be looked at like a fool, and immediately divorce his wife. Greek men will also be attracted to women who look less self confident and strong. Then the work force is not much better, in general Greek women will be overworked, underpaid, and can be replaced easily. (Kordas). However, the way Greece operates is just as cruel to men as it is women overall.
Regardless of your gender if you want to make money in Greece you have to do it illegally. Between huge fines and red tape nothing would ever get done and you would get nowhere in life. (Kordas). But in Greece’s defense it is easy to make fun of. It is a small country going through huge changes in a short period of time, Greece today is an interesting and frustrating combination of the old and the new, and it can take a lot of courage to live in the enigmatic land.
Sources:
Hitton, S. (n.d.). Social Culture of Greece. Retrieved February 24, 2015, from http://traveltips.usatoday.com/social-culture-greece-17532.html
Kordas, S. (n.d.). What Greece is Really Like (for Women). Retrieved February 24, 2015, from http://www.greecetravel.com/kordas/forwomen.htm