An exception to most other ancient societies, Egyptian women achieved practical equality with Egyptian men. They enjoyed a lot of the same rights ad men. Legal and economic rights were afforded to both sexes. Publicly and privately a woman's role was of great importance in Ancient Egypt. But, "it is necessary to understand that Egypt was a male- dominated society. It was essential that the wife create a home, care for the children and generally run the household."(1).
The Egyptian woman in general was free to go about in public; she certainly didn't wear a veil or anything of that sort. There are conflicting opinions however, as to whether or not it was safe for an Egyptian woman to venture far from her town alone. For example, Ramesses (King of Egypt 1184-1153 BCE) boasted in one inscription, "I enabled the women of Egypt to go her own way, her journeys being extended where she wanted without any person assaulting her on the road."(2) Unfortunately the women of ancient Egypt, like all women, were the victims of crime and rape. A different view of the traveling woman found in The Instructions of Any; "Be on your guard against a woman from abroad, who is not known in town. Do not have sex with her."(3) Despite a woman's legal freedom to travel about, folk law and traditions were discouraging of that. A woman's domain was in private life, which was more of a social custom than an official doctrine. .
The work of the upper and middle class woman was limited to the home and family. This was not due to an inferior legal status, but probably a consequence of her customary role as mother and bearer of children. Running a household was a considerable amount of work. Large households had scores of servants to be overseen; there were workshops for weaving, clothes making, food preparation, fruit and vegetable gardens to maintain. The kitchen and storage facilities of these large households were extraordinary in their size and capability.
