[Excerpts from gender discussion: Cato's speech against repeal of the Oppian Luxury Law (Liv. 34, 1, 2-4, 21)].
For the year 195 B.C. Livy (34, 1, 2-4, 21) places a speech opposing the repeal of the Oppian luxury law in the mouth of Cato the Censor. Polar stylization of gender characterizations runs throughout his speech--this stylization and comparison with later laws, e.g., the Augustan laws on marriage, makes the question of literal authenticity irrelevant. Therefore in presenting this speech Livy brings together the concepts of social planning found in Augustan legislation and elements of gender characterization taken from discourses in the literary and philosophical circles of his time. It was already clear in the times of Livy and his readers that these elements could be arbitrarily chosen.
Schubert
Charlotte
C
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D005260:Female; D005783:Gender Identity; D049690:History, Ancient; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011640:Public Policy; D012384:Rome; D014933:Women's Rights / Q000266:history*