Spartan women were also encouraged to strengthen their bodies so they could producestrong sons.While Athens completely excluded women from public life while in Spartawomen were not segregated or excluded. Despite their inclusion, Spartan women stilllacked formal public role. Athens not only excluded their women they also placedincreasing limitations on them.They were not allowed to be referred to by name in courtproceedings, were restricted to their homes and often married men up to fifty years theirsenior.I think Ban Zhou began her work in such a self-deprecating manner because thatis how she was raised. In the patriarchal society of China she was told from birth that she
