Lysistrata: Women

The women in Lysistrata were portrayed in a way that was typical of the time period and even throughout generations that followed. The women in Greece appear to be typical “trophy wives”, serving the purpose of parading around and doing sexual favors for the men. The women are always dressed in lovely, feminine blouses and gowns of yellow silk and flowers with slippers. They are dolls for their husbands to play with; dressed up and ready to do what they please. Lysistrata says, "we are good for nothing but love and lewdness". She knows, and is angered, that that is all they have come to be used for.

In Greek culture women had little freedom outside of the home. Because their husbands were often away women did become in control of their homes. This is evident in Lysistrata; the women were home longing for their husband’s return from war. The women’s jobs were to make meals, please their husbands (when they were home), and have their children. The women in Lysistrata appeared aware of the purpose they served. They knew that if they taunted their husbands and refused sex that the men would eventually have to declare an end to the war.

Lysistrata defies the stereotypes of the day because she refused to be ruled by her husband. She decided that women could have power too, and set out to prove it. This was a brave act for a woman at the time. Lysistrata says they “must refrain from the male altogether”. Despite telling the women the women that they must abstain from what the men wanted them to be, they all used their bodies to flaunt in front of their men so that they crave sex from them.