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Thisbe grieving over dying Pyramus. In the fictional work Pyramus and Thisbe, both Pyramus and Thisbe are innocent teenagers who disobey their parents and plot to meet each other at night outside their house gates. They meet a tragic end and reinforce one of the lessons that will never change with time: listen to your parents.
Building a future
The status of a Roman family depends on the type of career that the men of the family pursue. Their careers dictate this not only because of the amount of money they can earn but also because the prestige of jobs is important among the Romans. Thus, sons often received priority for education and resources than did daughters. The adolescents of wealthy families innately had an advantage for attaining the most prestigious, high-paying occupations, which had more selective criteria for all job-seekers. Many young men immediately enlisted in the Roman military as it was a very steady, reliable source of income. Rome's constant warfare helped much of the population provide for their families. There were other options as well, including becoming an artists, a merchant, or an entertainer.
Teenage girls were taught about pietas familiae, their duty to look after the household and nurture the family. Most girls did not consider the possibility of a wider public life. While their male counterparts explored their options and pursued higher education, girls remained at home, learning how to care for the household. Still, many young women found other channels to exert their influence; many wives or mothers of politicians and leaders acted as advisors. In this way, marriage gave some leverage to strategic young women in exercising their own power.
Socioeconomic and gender status played a huge role in determining what these adolescents of ancient Rome could make of their future. This inequality was prevalent in other aspects of their lives beyond pursuing a career as well.
Boy wears a bulla, an amulet that the Romans believed to protect the boys until adolescence.