Such reading materials were widely distributed and strengthened everywhere you can think of during ancient times. Women were seen as sexual symbols, and were only there for the pleasure of men. It is no longer a wonder to think about how or why society was able to function with these gender roles so emphatically emphasized; indeed, it is even more curious to think that in today's Western world we have managed to escape the worst of such roles. . Ancient epic stories show various examples that denigrate women, such as their appearance rather than their speech, or the sexual nature of women rather than how they made a huge impact on the world.