FLORES Informal Post #2-Women as Models of Piety

[Jasmine]

Here's the quote from Brown:

"For Gregory, as for his East Roman contemporaries, the ascetic call to experience the presence of God was open to everyone. Lay persons were challenged to pursue such piety to the best of the their ability, quite as much as were the more sheltered monks.

"This was a style of piety which assumed literacy and leisure. It was a lso a style in which women were not only the equal of men. They were, if anything, the unspoken models of male behavior. The secluded position of upper-class women had provided a centuries-old pattern for a tranquil and devoted style of life. Men could practice such a pious style of life, while remaining "in the world," only with the greatest difficulty. For men were that much more firmly tied to their public roles. They had to act as judges, administrators, soldiers, and landowners. Many of these roles were cruel; all were time0consuming. It was harder for men than it was for women to endure a life robbed of public profile, so as to live a semi-reclusive existence, "in" the world, as it were, but not "of" the world," (Brown 200). 

I don't have a particular question on this, except for who's taking care of the kids??! I am currently a stay-at-home-mom and I have a pretty time-consuming job just taking care of my little girls and trying to get everyday tasks done. Cleaning my house takes a back-seat to changing diapers, feedings, homeschooling my toddler (mostly play) and doing my NSA work. (I have more than once despaired of ever catching up on this course!) I have NO spare time. So, I'm assuming that these women, being of a higher position than the average peasant, had nannies and housekeepers so they could take the time to sit, read and knit all day. With that said, I do find more time to worship, pray and read God's Word than my husband who works 12-hour shifts and comes home exhausted to do it all again the next day. I employ technology to help me in this. (SmartPhones and Google Calendar reminders are GOLD!) But, would I be called the more pious one of the two of us? Hm...

I just find it interesting that women would be seen as examples and models of spirituality in a time where women had less (much less!) freedoms than we do today. I wonder if they were expected to lead the family worship, Bible Studies and all of the spiritual direction in their households, including teaching their own husbands?