In ancient Rome, girls from affluent families married young, typically in their mid-teens, with education primarily aimed at preparing them for domestic roles. Formal schooling for girls was short-lived and reflected their expected future as wives rather than public figures. While both boys and girls received early education at home, only boys progressed to advanced schooling in grammar and rhetoric, critical for careers in politics. Educational access for girls emphasized virtue over knowledge, pointing to the deep-rooted societal norms around gender roles during this period.
Although education was seen as crucial to self-advancement, the Roman education system was directed towards a young boy's 'career' in politics or in the Roman law courts.
Educating girls was believed to be more about instilling virtue, the best preparation for their lives as wives.
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