Beyond the Home: The Jobs and Rights of Women in Ancient Egypt

The Backbone of the Economy: Jobs for Common Women

Not every woman was a priestess or landowner. The vast majority of women in ancient Egypt were commoners. But they, too, worked and had economic lives.

Managers of the Household Estate

For the wife of a landowner or high official, “managing the household” was not a simple chore. It was one of the most complex jobs for women in ancient Egypt.

She was the CEO of a large estate. She was responsible for:

• Overseeing food production (farming, baking, brewing beer).
• Managing all household staff and servants.
• Controlling the family’s finances, supplies, and storage.
• Producing textiles for the family’s use.

Because the legal status of Egyptian women was so high, they ran these estates with full authority.

Farmers, Bakers, and Brewers

Among the farming class, women worked alongside their husbands in the fields, especially during the harvest.

But some of the most essential professions were almost entirely run by women: baking and brewing. Bread and beer were the two staples of the Egyptian diet. Women ran local bakeries and breweries, both for their own families and to sell or barter their goods at the market.

Specialized Trades: From Perfume to Mourning

Women also held other skilled trades. They worked as perfume-makers, a luxury trade that required great skill in mixing flowers, herbs, and oils.

And in a unique cultural role, women could be “professional mourners.” These were actresses hired to weep, wail, and throw dust on their hair at funerals. Their job was to publicly display the grief of the family and ensure the deceased had a proper ceremonial send-off.

From farmers to pharaohs, women in ancient Egypt were not just present—they were essential, empowered, and active participants in every part of society.