The Role of Women in Ancient Egypt

Compared to most other ancient civilizations, the role of women in Egypt was fairly "liberated". The role of women went far beyond the queens we know today- Nefertiti and Cleopatra, to name two. "Unlike the position of women in most other ancient civilizations, including that of Greece, the Egyptian woman seems to have enjoyed the same legal and economic rights as the Egyptian man- at least in theory" (No author 1).

Yet, these women were not "liberated" quite in the sense of the word we know today. "Women in ancient Egypt were free to conduct themselves as they saw fit, whether as 'Mistress of the House' or as a businesswoman in the marketplace" (Onstine 2). For the first time, according to ancient Egyptian scrolls, a woman is called a "domestic engineer". And, whatever other rank her husband may have held (and most relics come from the elite, rather than common ancient Egyptians) she would always be known by the title of respect, "Mistress of the House".

The "ordinary" or non-royal or elite woman, "could also be involved in activities outside her home. Women contributed to the family's income primarily by selling produce or surplus handicrafts....at the local market" (Onstine 3)

No one is quite sure how or why women had such rights, both in law and property and inheritances. One theory seems to be that "Since Egyptian national identity would have derived from all people sharing a common relationship with the king,. Then...they were...equal to one another" (Anon 3) It is interesting to note that while Egypt was far from an egalitarian society, the differences were based on status and class, not gender.

Some women practiced something considered illegal in ancient Egypt, namely, self-enslavement. That is, they would "hire" themselves out for a term of years, for which they would be paid a salary. "To get around the illegality, the servitude was stipulated only for a limited number of years, although ity ewas usually said to be '99 years'" (Anon 4). Women were often forced to do this as a result of bad debts, or for some sort of financial security. They would receive a monthly stipend for their services.

Unlike other ancient civilizations, the Egyptian woman also had property rights. "From the bulk of legal documents, we know that women could manage and dispose of private property, including land, portable goods, servants, slaves, livestock and money (when it existed) as well as financial instruments (i.e. endowments and annuities)" (No author 5).

By law, a woman in ancient Egypt inherited one-third of her husband's property, at the time of his death, the remainder split among their children. She could do what she wanted with her share, even disinheriting her children and bequeathing the money to other members of her family. It is also interesting to learn from ancient documents that if the marriage was childless and the husband did not wish to leave anything to other members of his family, he could legally adopt his wife, and she would inherit everything.

While much of the ancient Egyptian populace was illiterate, there obviously were literate women, including some of the first female physicians in recorded history. Some women were hired to serve as stewards for royalty, as well as scribes. "he title
shebet appears in some of the documents which translates as

'female scribe'" (Onstine 5) Egyptian paintings also show women with what are called "scribal kits" under their chairs, indicating that these kits belonged to them, and that these were obviously literate women.

In most ancient civilizations, the woman had little or no recourse within the law, unless handled by a male. The Egyptian women were different. "She was entitled to sue at law...a woman in Egypt could do all....in court freely without the need of a male representative. This amount of freedom was at variance with that of the Greek woman who required a designated male, called a kourios..." (Anon 5).

"Egyptian women had a free life, compared to her contemporaries in other lands. She wasn't a feminist, but she could have power and position if she was in the right class or family. She was an ancient Egyptian woman with hopes and dreams of her own... not too much different we woman of today" (Seawright 1).

WORKS CITED:

Onstine, Suzanne: "Women in Ancient Egypt"

www.egyptrevealed.com/052201-womeinegypt.htm -

Seawright, Carolyn: "Women in Ancient Egypt" Tour EgyptMonthly, April 2001, Vol. II No. 4

www.touregypt.net/magazine/mag04012001/magf6.htm -

No author listed: "Women in Ancient Egypt" www.expage.com/womenofegypt.htm

No author listed: "Women of Ancient Egypt"

www.crystallinks.com/egyptianwomen.html