The MCC Lecture Series concludes on April 10 with Western Michigan University’s Dr. Anise Strong shedding light on a little-known aspect of the Roman Empire.
The WMU assistant professor of history will present “Wicked Wives and Good Prostitutes: The Construction of Female Vice in the Roman World” at 7 p.m. in Stevenson Center Room 1100. A discussion will follow. The lecture is free and open to the public.
“In Roman legal texts and histories, women are divided into neat categories – the good wives and the wicked prostitutes,” explains Strong. “But the reality of life for Roman women was far more complex, and ancient women themselves challenged these labels.”
By taking a look at these transgressive women of the ancient world, ranging from prostitutes with hearts of gold to proudly promiscuous matrons, Strong will illuminate an often hidden aspect of the Roman Empire.
“The goal of the MCC Lecture Series is get the community thinking about diverse issues and to expose them to ideas that they might otherwise consider,” said MCC Instructor Andy Wible, who coordinates the MCC Lecture Series.
For more information, contact Wible at (231) 777-0626.