The labour of women in classical athens

Abstract

We agree that we sell ribbons and that we do not live as we would prefer…. He has also said of my mother that she worked as a wet-nurse. We do not deny that this happened, at a time when the city was suffering misfortune, and everyone was in a bad way; but I will make clear to you the manner in which she worked as a nurse and the reasons why she did so. Let none of you interpret it unfavourably, men of Athens; for indeed, you will find that many citizen women work as nurses, and, if you wish, I will mention them by name.’ (Demosthenes 57.31, 35). © 1994, The Classical Association. All rights reserved.