Gender Rules and Greek Classical Antiquity (V-IV centuries B.C.)

Gender studies uses gender to characterize standards of behavior, sets of qualities and the relative weight attributed to the difference of the sexes in relations between individuals. Among classicists, these three definitions usually converge to isolate a single gender system, strictly conceived with respect to a male/female division: the polarity aner (male citizen)/gune (wife of citizen). By contrast, a few studies, particularly those dealing with sexuality, convincingly conclude that ancient Greek societies were not systematically organized according to the difference between the sexes These conclusions encourage researchers to examine the various points of view expressed in documents elaborated by the Greeks living on the shores of the Ancient Mediterranean. Contrary to the common opinion, the male / female division seems much less structuring than those opposing members of the community to foreigners, Greeks to Barbarians, or mortals to the immortals