Final answer:
In ancient Greece, women were held in subservient roles and had limited rights and opportunities compared to men. Exceptions to these roles included hetaeras, higher-status women who entertained men and engaged in intellectual discussions. There is evidence to suggest that gender divisions may not have been as strict as portrayed.
Step-by-step explanation:
In ancient Greece, there were significant gender roles and inequalities. Women, by definition, could not be citizens, hold public office, own property, or defend themselves independently in court. They were legally minors under the control of their fathers or husbands. On the other hand, men held all rights and advantages and were considered the dominant gender in society.
One exception to these roles were hetaeras, higher-status women who received an education to entertain men. They were considered lower in status than men but higher than other women. An example of a famous hetaera is Aspasia of Miletus, who engaged in intellectual discussions with prominent writers and thinkers.
It is important to note that the evidence of gender roles in ancient Greece is based on writings by elite men, who supported female subservience. Some evidence suggests that gender divisions might not have been as strict as portrayed, as seen in the works of Sappho, a female poet known to write about lesbianism. Overall, ancient Greek society was patriarchal with significant disparities between men and women.