Women in Greece?

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edoardo_visconti

In my capacity as a lawyer, and seeing things from inside, I can assure you that in continental Greece and Crete women are still second class civilians. The law provides equal rights but women in these territories would not claim them easily either because society and family would critisize them, or because they don't have the means to. I have seen many despert women which do not have even the support of their family, when for example they need to get elibarated from a bunkrapt marriage, or their being physically or psychologically abused. An other issue is the societie's being pregiudist towrads women who have been violated, and they are considered to have provoked by their behaviour or way of dressing their abuse. The majority of the similar cases gets withdrown before court, just because women are afraid of their humiliation before the audience.
In the islands there's an other air of freedom and respect for women, while in the Dodecanese islands there's always a world wide record, that matriarchate is the rule, and women are more equal than men, doughters being more appreciated than sons, properties owned only by women etc, while the University of Edinbourgh has started a whole research upon this phoenomenon (Dr Angeliki Christopoulou Loumaki is working on this). Therefore, keeping in mind that Greece is not only islands, which make the exception, the rest of Greece is still far behind as far as women's position is concerned and there's a lot of way to go...

haroula

sometimes i do see "the macho"man!but most are ok!the greek woman has the same rights as any european country!usually the head of the household is the greek woman!!her word is the law!the husband/father always says,"ask your mother if you can do sth"when spoken to the child!

Ronin

Def not oriental, not even Middle easterners are oriental. i would say it's macho, but legal rights are same as Europe

Ipek K

Merhaba Leonarda,

As a Turk, I can say that in all Mediterranean countries men think that they are the rulers but they can not do anything without the approval of their mothers or wives. We just let them think they are macho. We have to boost their ego so they will be good to us, right? :))

When it comes to rights issue, I do not think women in your country has less rights then the ones in Europe, may be more but not less. Your country is the cradle of democracy. It would be very awkward to be otherwise.

dofaegean

I think that woman's position in Greece is not the same in all over the country. It depends on the region you are. For example, in the islands families was and continues to be more matriarchal.
However, the position of woman in Greece in general terms, is like the position of Greece in Europe (something between East and West).

spartaworld.combat

Ancient Greece was both a patriarch and matriarch led society. The male was the head of the family and bread winner, the woman the household authority. Only when the female inherited money was she considered the leader of the family. Modern day assignment are more equal.Greek IS part of the European structure and outside the near east borders (Asian).
Spartawo...

..Tolia..

I think that as a nation we are little confused

so much affected by USA culture (more than European)

and so much connected to our oriental past..

but regarding woman I should pose another point of view and I ll talk about the position of woman in work-

unfortunately I see that woman are treated worst than man, less respected and their salary is lower than man, even if they have the same (or more)qualifications and working experience

I dont know why this is happening but it is rare to see woman in managerial positions, taking decisions and being respected

I should mention here that I am talking about the status quo in Thessaloniki and North Greece - I believe in Athens things are little different

I hope someday we ll be able to keep our good stuff and aboded all those stings that keeps us behind

Regards

Hoplite

The greek way it's not a fixed way. A woman's possition in Greece it depents on her character and the man she will choose to live with. The laws and especially the european union laws are on her side but since the mentality is more on the mans side, a woman has to try little to be equal.

Life is for the takers.

reifguy

i think any woman in any society should have equal rights close to the man,macho society isnt only in greece its worldwide,but the society is made of the mother, daughter ,sister and every woman should be able to express and live her life side by side with man ,and not get runned over by the laws or the discrimination ...i think most europeans societies have been working hard to make womens right better ,and greece is for sure on that road its part of ther european union ,,,women of greece r definitely free and living upto their rights ,,,beautiful question,,and very interesting

Frank B

I guess Greek women are independent enough. For instance, most have a job and contribute equally to their family with their husbands...

I would prefer the word Mediterranean instead of oriental, as oriental entails also the image of Islamic women and that's a different story all together.

As a Greek man I think that the society is not as macho as once was. Even among men, this is also considered a kinda of backwards mentality these days.

South Italy is the most macho society I have seen so far.

Gyps

not being greek but around Greeks a lot and having one in the family it seems as though the men are head of the household....but the women have a way to get around that...lol
and no way do I ever think in terms of oriental in ways of a Greek or being Greek..
You have women in high places in Government jobs, many working women helping support the family in the younger generation now, not like with the older ones that stayed at home. Seems as though you have rights even though all salaries are low in your country from what I found out.

The Stainless Steel Rat

Î‘Î³Î±Ï€Î·Ï„Î® Leonarda
You should know you are a woman living in Greece. Since the second world war Greek women have had more freedom and less hassles than most other European countries. Did you know that the last women to get the vote in Europe were the Swiss in 1972?! Greek society is definitely not a macho one. If anything it is very feminine. You ladies have a lot of power. You always did. Us Greek men have long known who the real boss is. You rule.

Takis

Women..............................

14 INCHES MIKE

I don't care their position, I just like them, that's all...

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