The main challenge in writing the history of Roman women is their silence, for they either did not themselves write, or what writing they did was not kept and transmitted. Stripped of their own voices, they primarily speak to us through the writings of elite male authors. Thus, the study of Roman women is predominantly a study of representation rather than reality. There are, however, a few welcome exceptions. Despite the increasing interest in bringing to the foreground the voice of Roman female writers, their work still struggles to find space in the male-dominated canon of Latin literature taught at the college level. This paper argues for the necessity of creating a more diverse and inclusive reading curriculum and highlights the benefits of such an approach through the description of a newly designed course on Roman women writers.
Introducing Female Voices in the College Latin Classroom: A New Course on Roman Women Writers
Abstract of Article: