Thus, a woman's sexuality was owned by her husband. Generally, we will see that these premises undermine the position of women well into the 16th century A.D. .
The ancient Egyptian woman, however, enjoyed a level of freedom partly due to the fact that land and property were passed down through the female line from mother to daughter. This matrilineal line of descent placed women in a relatively high social status. Although the role of women in domestic duties was to keep the household and rear children, the higher the woman's social status the less domestic work she had to do. Most affluent women had servants who were paid small wages to take care of daily chores while she could luxuriate herself in all manner of personal indulgences. Egyptian women's matrilineal rights to property and their legal status of equality with men afforded them this level of social freedom. Most women, unfortunately, were not well educated because education was limited in scope and was usually limited to those who dedicated their lives to religion. In fact, " neither, it seems, did they consider it desirable that many women should receive the formal education that would fit them to have a career outside the home ." .
Grecian women had far less freedom that the Egyptian women. The women of Greece were hardly allowed to leave their homes and when they did they were required by law to cover their heads and had to be accompanied by a male chaperone. Grecian women were confined to their apartments and not allowed to leave without permission. The Greek historian, Herodotus, recorded his biased views of the difference between the freedom of the Egyptian females during a visit he made to Egypt around 450 B.C.
"The Egyptians, in their manners and customs, seem to have reversed the ordinary practices of mankind. For instance, women attend market and are employed in trade, while men stay at home and the weaving." .
As a Greek he was accustomed to women leading a much more proscribed legal and social life.