What were the Romans views on women and children?

Women and children were considered to be a class under the class of men. Men were first and foremost in the eyes of the Romans and many of the 12 tables had to do with the rights of women and children. The tables pertaining to women and children are:
• “IV. 1 "A dreadfully deformed child shall be killed."
• IV. 2 "If a father surrender his son for sale three times, the son shall be free."
• V. 1 "Our ancestors saw fit that "females, by reason of levity of disposition, shall remain in guardianship, even when they have attained their majority."
• VI. 2 Marriage by `usage' (usus): If a man and woman live together continuously for a year, they are considered to be married; the woman legally is treated as the man's daughter.
• X. 4 "Women must not tear cheeks or hold chorus of `Alas!' on account of a funeral."
All of these tables clearly show the definitive line in social stature between women and children and men. The Romans almost consider women as inferior and just objects for men to possess. Children were disrespected in society, the table that states that deformed children shall be killed. Children, unless consider to be an effective asset had to earn their way through society to turn their place in the Roman Republic where a land owning man was considered to be greater than any other person in society, especially women and children(csun.edu).

Works Cited
"THE TWELVE TABLES." California State University, Northridge. Web. 05 Mar. 2010. .