Men must represent both men and women in the social sphere and are the “heads of the family” and women must be the domestic housewives. This difference in roles is particularly widespread in Thucydides' text. He states that citizenship in Athens was closely tied to battle honor and the political sphere. Citizens were expected to be active in the social and political spheres, as well as to die honorably in battle. Since women could not defend and represent themselves, they could not obtain citizenship, and it is precisely because they did not have citizenship that they could not represent themselves. This allowed men to look down on women because they couldn't perform the civic duty they weren't even allowed to do. Therefore, there was this confusing cycle that women were trapped in. Christine de Pizan, however, challenges this idea that women have no say in the social sphere. He does this personally in his life when he manages his own land and writes his books. Again, her case is extremely rare in that influence and background as this is allowed by a noble's wife. Her education was also a great asset and under normal circumstances, if she had been a woman with no social standing, this would not have been possible. Pizan also challenges the cultural role put in place; on the one hand she is still a mother who takes care of her children, but on the other hand she is also the “breadwinner” of the house. Precisely because it is able to do both, it is able to emphasize the equality of both sexes in both spheres of life.