According to contemporary sources, Classical Athenian society, like most of the Ancient World, was male dominated. In an age when wars broke out routinely, soldiers were bound to be prominent in city life. They were accorded civic rights and decided on the developments in the city. Under a direct democracy, the citizens spent a lot of their time dealing with public affairs, which made slaves, even on small holdings, indispensable for farm work.

It was the individual citizen's economic status which decided to what extent work would be done by slaves and only by slaves. Not only were males from the well-to-do strata of society able to attend all the city's political meetings, but they could spend their spare time at the gymnasia or in the Agora. Here they would normally talk politics or discuss social events - for example, their impressions of the performance of a play.

Gatherings in private houses - for food, drink, entertainment and discussion - were a favourite pastime for this category of men. These gatherings were called a symposia: many scholars regard it as the extension of the polis into the oikos. Hosting a symposion cost money, so it was the well-to-do, whether Athenian citizens or metics, who generally held them. This was one way a metic could participate in Athenian social life. Since elaborate tableware was a feature of these gatherings, they also provided craftsmen with a source of income.

It is certain that men in less well-to-do houses worked on the land. For them, 'free time' was a luxury. One should also bear in mind that they were under an obligation to help run the city. Their amusement must have been limited to the not infrequent public festivals.

Obviously an adult male was not in the house much. There was little for him to do there as the women of the house attended to all practical matters.