Review: The Constraints of Desire: The Anthropology of Sex and Gender in Ancient Greece by John J. Winkler

The Constraints of Desire: The Anthropology of Sex and Gender in Ancient Greece by John J. Winkler
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

For many years, there has been a heated scholarly debate regarding the role of women in classical Athens. The question of whether women held significant informal power or were treated as little more than slaves has been a focal point of discussion. However, Winkler takes a fresh approach to this topic by utilizing feminist anthropology methods and expanding the scope to examine the cultural construction of sex and gender in ancient Greece. By doing so, he sheds light on the potential for female autonomy that existed within Greek society, offering a new perspective on the position of women in classical Athens.

This book has proven to be a valuable resource for my college thesis, as it covers a wide range of topics and texts in the field of Classics. Winkler delves into foundational works such as the Odyssey, Sappho's poetry, and Daphnis and Chloe, offering insightful analysis. What sets this book apart is its inclusion of lesser-known technical texts like medical writings, dream interpretation manuals, and ancient scholia (literary commentaries). By exploring these diverse sources, Winkler effectively exposes the inherent bias in Classical Studies, which has often obscured our understanding of the ancient world.

Through his research, Winkler convincingly argues that despite the scarcity of direct evidence about the lives and perspectives of ancient women, they were likely aware of the sexist society they lived in and possessed the ability to navigate it skillfully. This challenges the prevailing notion that women in ancient Greece were passive and powerless. By shedding light on their potential agency and resilience, Winkler provides a fresh and compelling perspective on the experiences of women in the classical period.

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