Immigrant Women in Athens: Gender, Ethnicity, and Citizenship in the Classical City (Routledge Studies in Ancient History)

Many of the women whose names are known to history from Classical Athens were __metic__s or immigrants, linked in the literature with assumptions of being ‘sexually exploitable.’ Despite recent scholarship on women in Athens beyond notions of the ‘citizen wife’ and the ‘common prostitute,’ the scholarship on women, both citizen and foreign, is focused almost exclusively on women in the reproductive and sexual economy of the city. This book examines the position of __metic__ women in Classical Athens, to understand the social and economic role of __metic__ women in the city, beyond the sexual labor market. This book contributes to two important aspects of the history of life in 5^th^ century Athens: it explores our knowledge of __metics__, a little-researched group, and contributes to the study if women in antiquity, which has traditionally divided women socially between citizen-wives and everyone else. This tradition has wrongly situated __metic__ women, because they could not legally be wives, as some variety of whores. Author Rebecca Kennedy critiques the traditional approach to the study of women through an examination of primary literature on non-citizen women in the Classical period. She then constructs new approaches to the study of __metic__ women in Classical Athens that fit the evidence and open up further paths for exploration. This leading-edge volume advances the study of women beyond their sexual status and breaks down the ideological constraints that both Victorians and feminist scholars reacting to them have historically relied upon throughout the study of women in antiquity. Many Of The Women Whose Names Are Known To History From Classical Athens Were Metics Or Immigrants, Linked In The Literature With Assumptions Of Being 'sexually Exploitable.' Despite Recent Scholarship On Women In Athens Beyond Notions Of The 'citizen Wife' And The 'common Prostitute,' The Scholarship On Women, Both Citizen And Foreign, Is Focused Almost Exclusively On Women In The Reproductive And Sexual Economy Of The City. This Book Examines The Position Of Metic Women In Classical Athens, To Understand The Social And Economic Role Of Metic Women In The City, Beyond The Sexual Labor Market. This Book Contributes To Two Important Aspects Of The History Of Life In 5th Century Athens: It Explores Our Knowledge Of Metics, A Little-researched Group, And Contributes To The Study If Women In Antiquity, Which Has Traditionally Divided Women Socially Between Citizen-wives And Everyone Else. This Tradition Has Wrongly Situated Metic Women, Because They Could Not Legally Be Wives, As Some Variety Of Whores. Author Rebecca Kennedy Critiques The Traditional Approach To The Study Of Women Through An Examination Of Primary Literature On Non-citizen Women In The Classical Period. She Then Constructs New Approaches To The Study Of Metic Women In Classical Athens That Fit The Evidence And Open Up Further Paths For Exploration. This Leading-edge Volume Advances The Study Of Women Beyond Their Sexual Status And Breaks Down The Ideological Constraints That Both Victorians And Feminist Scholars Reacting To Them Have Historically Relied Upon Throughout The Study Of Women In Antiquity-- Metic Women, Citizenship, And Marriage In Athenian Law -- The Ideology Of The Metic Woman -- Aspasia, Athenian Citizen Elites, And The Myth Of The Courtesan -- The Dangers Of The Big City -- Working Women, Not Working Girls. Rebecca Futo Kennedy. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. "Many of the women whose names are known to history from Classical Athens were metics or immigrants, linked in the literature with assumptions of being 'sexually exploitable.' Despite recent scholarship on women in Athens beyond notions of the 'citizen wife' and the 'common prostitute, ' the scholarship on women, both citizen and foreign, is focused almost exclusively on women in the reproductive and sexual economy of the city. This book examines the position of metic women in Classical Athens, to understand the social and economic role of metic women in the city, beyond the sexual labor market. This book contributes to two important aspects of the history of life in 5th century Athens: it explores our knowledge of metics, a little-researched group, and contributes to the study if women in antiquity, which has traditionally divided women socially between citizen-wives and everyone else. This tradition has wrongly situated metic women, because they could not legally be wives, as some variety of whores. Author Rebecca Kennedy critiques the traditional approach to the study of women through an examination of primary literature on non-citizen women in the Classical period. She then constructs new approaches to the study of metic women in Classical Athens that fit the evidence and open up further paths for exploration. This leading-edge volume advances the study of women beyond their sexual status and breaks down the ideological constraints that both Victorians and feminist scholars reacting to them have historically relied upon throughout the study of women in antiquity"-- Provided by publisher Many of the women whose names are known to history from Classical Athens were metic s or immigrants, linked in the literature with assumptions of being ‘sexually exploitable.’ Despite recent scholarship on women in Athens beyond notions of the ‘citizen wife’ and the ‘common prostitute,’ the scholarship on women, both citizen and foreign, is focused almost exclusively on women in the reproductive and sexual economy of the city. This book examines the position of metic women in Classical Athens, to understand the social and economic role of metic women in the city, beyond the sexual labor market. This book contributes to two important aspects of the history of life in 5 th century Athens: it explores our knowledge of metics , a little-researched group, and contributes to the study if women in antiquity, which has traditionally divided women socially between citizen-wives and everyone else. This tradition has wrongly situated metic women, because they could not legally be wives, as some variety of whores. Author Rebecca Kennedy critiques the traditional approach to the study of women through an examination of primary literature on non-citizen women in the Classical period. She then constructs new approaches to the study of metic women in Classical Athens that fit the evidence and open up further paths for exploration. This leading-edge volume advances the study of women beyond their sexual status and breaks down the ideological constraints that both Victorians and feminist scholars reacting to them have historically relied upon throughout the study of women in antiquity. Immigrant Women in Athens: Gender, Ethnicity, and Citizenship in the Classical City 4 Contents 8 List of Figures 10 Acknowledgments 12 Abbreviations 14 Introduction: Immigrant Women in a Male Citizen World 16 BEING METIC 17 BEING FOREIGN 19 OVERVIEW OF CHAPTERS 22 NOTES 23 1 Metic Women, Citizenship, and Marriage in Athenian Law 27 THE ORIGINS OF METOIKIA 27 THE PERIKLEAN CITIZENSHIP LAW OF 451 BCE 29 WAR, PLAGUE, AND EXCEPTIONS TO THE RULES 32 THE 403 BCE REINSTATEMENT AND BANNING MARRIAGE 34 MARRIAGE ALTERNATIVES? 35 CONCLUSION 37 NOTES 37 2 The Ideology of the Metic Woman 41 MYTHICAL METIC WOMEN 41 INVASION OF THE METICS 43 METICS WITH BENEFITS 44 THE METIC CONTAGION 53 MANAGING METICS 64 IMAGINING METIC WOMEN 70 CONCLUSION 73 NOTES 74 3 Aspasia, Athenian Citizen Elites, and the Myth of the Courtesan 83 REDEFINING THE HETAIRA 83 THE REAL ASPASIA? 89 DANGEROUS INFLUENCES?: THE REAL HETAIRAI OF ATHENS 93 CONCLUSION 100 NOTES 102 4 The Dangers of the Big City 112 PRECARIOUS LIVES 113 VIOLENCE AGAINST METIC WOMEN: THE CASE OF NEAIRA 118 SOCIAL PREJUDICES 121 SURVIVAL STRATEGIES— HETAIREIA AND PALLAKIA AS ALTERNATIVES TO MARRIAGE 127 CONCLUSION 132 NOTES 133 5 Working Women, Not 'Working Girls' 138 PREJUDICE AND WOMEN’S LABOR 138 IN THE MARKETS: MUSICIANS, WOOL WORKERS, AND SELLERS OF VARIOUS WARES 141 DOMESTIC CHILDCARE 148 MIDWIVES, DOCTORS, AND FOLK HEALERS 155 PRIESTESSES AND TEMPLE OFFICIALS 160 SOPHISTS AND EDUCATORS 165 CONCLUSION 168 NOTES 168 Bibliography 178 Index 188