What was the difference between ancient roman women from the rich and the poor?
Wealthy women led quite leisurely lives, because they had slaves to do all the housework, cooking, childcare etc. In Greece, even wealthy women were expected to spend much of their time spinning and weaving, but wealthy roman women were not expected to do this. They would have plenty of time to devote to shopping, going to the baths, visiting friends etc. They mixed freely with men socially and attended banquets, the theatre, the games etc. Upper class women devoted a lot of time to their appearance, and had their hair styled in elaborate fashions which changed frequently. Their female slaves were expected to do their hair. They used cosmetics and perfume and wore jewellery. It was considered desirable that women be well educated, and upper class women were sufficiently cultivated to be able to participate in the intellectual life of their male associates. Pliny the Younger for example praised his young wife for memorising his verses and setting them to music. Wealthy family might own
