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This course examines the impact of the ancient world on the life of modern women. More specifically, we examine the evolution of women’s life, starting from ancient Greece (where we have the most complete evidence from sources) and following its trajectory to the modern day. Ancient Greece, known for catapulting civilization to higher levels with its invention of democracy, political science, philosophy, the codification of laws and the professionalization of medicine among other achievements, shaped the world, for better or worse, as we know it today. This same culture, however, has excluded women from public life since the 5th century BC and has set the stage for pioneer women in the West to combat the perception of females as inferior beings and to struggle to enter higher education and public life and, eventually, gain voting rights. This socio-political framework helps us explore the gender ideologies that have impacted women’s life since antiquity, the changes in the perception of women in the course of history, the origin and development of ideas about women’s body and mind, as well as the role of race in regard to these issues. Understanding the gamut of theories and attitudes toward women, we can develop a better grasp of what women want today, where they are headed, what obstacles are still standing in their way and how they can overcome them to achieve their goals.