When was the last time you thought about the Roman Empire? If you’re a man, according to TikTok, it turns out you probably think about it pretty often, maybe even every day!
@vi0letjmua #romanempire #bf ♬ original sound – Violet Rose
There could be several reasons why men think about the Roman Empire so much — it’s interesting, even fascinating. However, my guess is that the Roman Empire appeals to men because it was the epitome of a patriarchal society where men were celebrated for their political, military, and social achievements. Almost every book written about the Roman Empire focuses on men; so naturally, men draw inspiration from this, romanticise it and think about it regularly.
@aneorbii i think about this speech at least once a day #fleabag #femcel #romanempire #womenarebornwithpainbuiltin ♬ Cry – Cigarettes After Sex
But if men truly think about something like the Roman Empire on a daily basis, what occupies the thoughts of women, specifically Arab women? To gain a better understanding of this, I thought there was no better approach than to ask women themselves:
“Honestly, I think about that Ice Spice lyric ‘Jazzy, Stacy Niki Grah’ from her song with Nicki Minaj quite a lot – does that count as my version of the Roman Empire?” – 25 years old, Ghazal.
Via @icespice
“Probably iced coffee…I mean…do guys actually think about the Roman Empire that much?” – 25 years old, Racile.
“I think about my sense of clothing style – like the type of clothes I am going to wear on a daily basis” – 34-year-old, Aseel.
“Tom Holland’s lip sync challenges, I have to watch it every once in a while, his performance of umbrella LOL.” – 25 years old, Tala.
“What me and my husband’s next meal is going to be!” – 30 years old, Mervat.
“Gilmore Girls – I think it’s just because there are so many real lines in it that *hit*, and I countdown till next September to watch it again. It’s a mood.” – 24 years old, Yara
Via @gilmoregirls
When reflecting on the answers above, it seems to me that our equivalent of the Roman Empire is not necessarily something as extensive or expansive as an empire, but rather the simple things in life that bring us happiness: a song that we can’t get out of our heads, the passion and hobbies we have in life such as fashion, the pleasure of enjoying our daily iced latte or favourite foods, and even the feel-good sensation we experience when watching our favourite YouTube videos, series, and movies.
I also believe that for women, like men, our Roman Empire is something we romanticise. Men might romanticise the military, wars, or even holding positions of power. On the other hand, women often romanticise things like old-fashioned traditional romance:
“Definitely old school romance and love, like you know these TikTok trends that are like when guys say I miss you… or different philosophies like stoicism.” – 23 years old, Dana.
“I sound basic but that Disney movie Anastasia, I just love doing research on the Russian empire…or Henry VIII – mostly because I can’t believe this guy was legit.” – 25 years old, Sara.
Via Cosmo US, 20th Century Fox
In addition to romanticising our lives, there has been an overwhelming response in favour of Princess Diana as someone people think about regularly. Both Dalia (24 years old) and Zeinada (28 years old) say they think of her often. Princess Diana is an icon for both fashion and humanitarian causes, so it’s not surprising that she is someone we frequently think about, aspiring to emulate her not just in fashion but in life as well.
With all this being said, it turns out that women do have their own version of the Roman Empire. Unlike men though, we have a wide and diverse range of captivating narratives that occupy our thoughts on a daily basis. While men tend to gravitate toward military conquests and power, women find allure in old-fashioned romance, stirring poetry, historical tales like Anastasia, and both real and fictional characters like Princess Diana and Queen Charlotte. So, while our Roman Empires may differ in scale, both men and women share a common thread—a profound appreciation for life, people and storytelling.