Athens Democracy

Athens Democracy

The type of democracy practiced in Athens for the time period of the fourth and fifth centuries may not have been perfect, but at the time it was the best government and superior to what most of the ancient world was living under. There was great controversy to Athens democracy, democracy is defined as “a state of society characterized by formal equality of rights and privileges”. But in Athens not all people were equal, women didn’t have many rights, nor did slaves. “Women, slaves, and metics made up the majority of Athens population, but lacked political rights. Women who were citizens enjoyed legal privileges and social status denied [of] slaves and [metics].” (Hunt, 82) Women were respected solely because they could bare children and that was “the source of family- and the heart of Greek society”. (Hunt, 82)
In Athens when a marriage between a man and women occurred, there were many split roles that took place. Men over women had greater rights in Athens society. Women didn’t get to choose her husband; her father was responsible to make the choice of whom his daughter would marry. Men overlooked everything outside of their house (which the women were responsible for). Men functioned within the public sphere, whereas women were restricted to the private, domestic sphere. In terms of rights men had every right offered, whereas women didn’t gain any rights until she was married and separated from her father. Men were expected to participate in government because “that’s what a democracy is about”, it is participation by the people for the people. There were numerous government posts, which men could participate in, including the council of five hundred and juries. (Hunt, 77) This included the rich, middle, and poor class, the government even used the public funds to pay men serving, these jobs were chosen from the selective lottery Athens had in place.
Property owner ship in Athens was a divided role for men and women. “Athenian wives...