Women were considered inferior because they had less education than men and could not contribute to society like men could.
In ancient Greece women did not have many rights and privileges. They were expected to stay at home and take care of the household while their husbands went off to work or war. When a woman married she became part of her husband’s house and was not allowed to own any property unless it was given to her by her father or brother. If she did own any property then it would belong to her husband after marriage.
Women were not allowed to participate in government, own property, or even leave the house without the permission of a man.
In order to protect their virtue, they were often kept inside their homes and not allowed to socialize with other people. Their exposure to the world outside their home was limited by law.
Women could be sold into slavery if they did not marry by a certain age or if they had been convicted of certain crimes (murder, adultery). The practice of prostitution was also common for women who did not have a husband or family support.
The Greeks believed that women were naturally inferior to men and therefore treated them as such. Even though there were exceptions for some elite women who had more freedom than most women did not have many rights or privileges compared to men in ancient Greece.
