How did Roman views on the family and the status of women differ from today?

Answer 1

Father is the paterfamilias - the father of the family. He had (in certain Roman eras) right of life and death over family members. Roman views on the family and status of women varied with the times, just like in any other society, and on the social status of the woman/family. It is difficult to make sweeping generalizations. On the whole, however - women had few rights at all and were expected to tend the house. Period. House and slaves, of course, because slaves were property of the house. She had to know a great deal in order to run the house - and a good many women were well educated. They were not "equals" to men, and they were certainly NOT citizens.

Answer 2

women didnt have today's right of course but had a big responsibility about educating daughters...
the family was a prototype of empire:
emperor: father
children : people of empire
servants : slaves
so the family was important...the family was the only place in which a child is educated until schools were established...