Vindictive movements of women in rome during the second century b.c.: the case of the repeal of the Lex Oppia

Abstract

This research aims to apply gender studies to ancient history, with the purpose of showing the existence of social movements led by women in ancient Rome. The hypothesis that supports this work is that women began to be more present in the public sphere and raised feminist demands many centuries before the emergence of feminism in the late 18th century. Due to the magnitude of the idea of this study, the current essay only focusses on the Republican period and most specifically on the 2nd century B.C. The event analysed in this essay is the demonstration of the Roman matrons in order to repeal the lex Oppia (195 B.C.) The research methodology was based on a critical reading of classical sources with gender perspective, along with a review of a more modern literature. The lex Oppia imposed severe restrictions on the wealth and freedom for upper class Roman women. The implementation of this law led to the emergence of an organized movement by matrons, which obtained a strong support from a large part of the upper class. While these women massively crowded the streets of Rome a debate took place in the forum between Cato, from the conservative faction standing against the repeal of the lex Oppia, and Valerius, who supported such repeal.