The Rise of Christianity, the Fall of Ancient Feminism

The argument is an old one, and yet has somehow kept its vigor, even in the 21^st century. What affect did Christianity have on gender roles in western society? Some people assert that the rise of Christianity effectively stomped out any ability for women to be considered equal for, arguably, millenniums afterward. Others might say that the writers of the Christian scriptures were the feminists of their day, affording each woman the hope and knowledge of spiritual equality to men in her own rite. So, which is it? Is the answer really that difficult to discern? And if so, why is it that these “spiritual” rights have not afforded women their “physical” and civil liberties too?

Liberties of Ancient Roman Women

To begin, an examination of the role of women in ancient Rome must be done. Little is known about women in the very early days of Rome. They must have had some measure of equality because they worked with their husbands on family farms. Historians know that farmers were the proverbial "backbone" of early Rome. They were hard-working farmers who had no time for leisure. After the Punic wars, in which Rome inherited almost a million slaves, the political structures of society changed as farmers moved into cities and fought for the professional army. Rome became a great empire at this point and women were granted citizenship, allowed to inherit and retain property, have wills, appear in court and have the equal testimony of a man, and even sit at the dinner table with the men in the household. There were limits to these relative freedoms, however, but citizenship, business and land-owning liberties speak volumes as to her worth in first-century Roman society.  

Marriage and Sexuality

One must divorce him or herself from the idea of modern marriage to consider the societal functionalities of ancient Roman marriages. Nobility’s marriages were often arranged, and it was a matter of social standing rather than for love. Women were usually linked with their families of origin, except in just a few circumstances. Women did not take their husbands' names and inherited wealth through their fathers, and that wealth was equal to that of their brothers. Sure, the liberties of women did depend largely on wealth and social status, but a few women did run their own businesses. 

Adultery for the ancient Romans did not have the same definition as today. One could participate in sex with slaves or prostitutes, or virtually anyone of lower social standing to them. This was true for both men and women. Loyalty was important to a Roman marriage, but loyalty did not necessarily mean faithful. Women, in reality, did have less liberty than men in this department, but it was not a matter of morality like one would think; it was a matter of paternity. If a woman were to get pregnant from an extramarital affair, then paternity and inheritance to the child could not be certain, and this could interrupt the status quo.  

Women and Roman Law

Women did have considerable influence in Roman society in spite of the fact that they did not have the right to vote. They had so much influence in fact, that it is arguable that they may have been on the verge of being given the right to vote until spread of Christianity. The influence of women in the political realm, though collateral, should not be understated. Women often participated in political discussion in a wide variety of places, yet were expected to be subject to their husbands in the public eye. Consider that though women may not have been on the verge of total equality, they may have been getting close to voting rights by the time of the Christianization of Rome.

Fall of Rome, Rise of Christianity, and Decline of Women’s Rights

Rome didn’t fall in a day, as they say, and perhaps it was no coincidence that Christianity gained popularity during those first few centuries AD. Rome, as mentioned, originally built on the backs of the middle class (the small farmers), became increasingly elitist. Eventually, politics were completely monopolized by the elite, and the middle class became disenchanted with the sovereignty of Rome. The patriotism in Rome began to wane. Many decided not to fight for the military and the number of soldiers dwindled. Perhaps it was understandable that Christianity gained popularity. The original precepts of Christianity did not distinguish between the poor or the rich, male or female, slave or free, but held all in the same regard. Thus began the exchange of the enchantment with Rome with the enchantment with Christianity.

Not only had freemen begun to question the authority of Rome, but younger women had begun to rebel against social norms by stepping out of their traditional roles, even where motherhood was concerned. Roman women were expected to bear children, but it was uncommon for Roman women to have more than a couple of kids. Women often chose not to breastfeed their infants but purchase breast milk, and for those who could afford it, full-time wet-nurses were hired to live in the home and care for infants.

One of the rights that ancient Roman women had that modern western women are still struggling to regain, is reproductive freedom. There is evidence of herbal birth controls that were high in estrogen. If the women ingested these herbs, ovulation could be suppressed, and thus, pregnancy would not occur. Spermicides, both male and female condoms, and vinegar douches were also common. Abortions were not considered a crime, because it was believed that one is not fully human until after birth. Reproductive rights might help account for the small size of most Roman families.

Christianity was still not a driving force in Rome even at just before the conversion of Constantine; however, once Constantine declared Christianity as the official religion of Rome, Christianity took on a highly political livelihood. Historians aren't so sure that the “conversion” of Constantine in the third century might not have been a political ploy, as it is common knowledge that Constantine was certainly not exclusive with his own Christianity. Perhaps he only declared Christianity to be the religion of Rome for purposes of unifying a decaying empire.

As was clear with civilizations past, successfully functioning societies need "unifying agents." In early Rome that unifying agent would have been patriotism, but in later Rome, because patriotism waned, there needed to be something else. Unifying a dying society through Christian teachings would beget control. It is admittedly speculative, but perhaps Rome thought it needed to get back to its "roots." In other words, progression may have been seen as a destructive ideal. And for the wayward women who had begun to rebel against social norms, it's possible that those who were in control of society thought that if laws governed the liberties of women, then maybe women would desire traditional gender roles, and thus restore Rome back to its original splendor. 

It should be noted that the rise of Christian principles were arguably to blame for women not having any kind of consideration or a voice at all. For instance, the once growing practice of obstetrics became obsolete by the Middle Ages. The church began to control every aspect of the lives of Christianity's observers, and women were oppressed. They no longer were protected by civil laws, people’s laws, or even natural laws. They were, in a sense, raped of all liberties and influence in society. The use of contraceptives was punishable, requiring penances lasting two to fifteen years, for it was considered as grave as the sin of murder. If any woman enjoyed sex, she was said to be prone to witchcraft. And so it was, that in a relatively short period of time, women had lost all the influence they once had at the height of the Roman Empire.

As a result of Christendom, women wouldn’t again gain much, if any, measurable headway in women’s liberties for the better part of two millenniums. And even today, there is still pressure to marry Christianity to politics. What is truly the liberation of women? For some sects of Christianity, spiritual equality will never translate to physical equality to men. For those sects, women are to be greatly respected and revered, but only within their God-given roles of obedience to their husbands and their dedication to motherhood.