The Treatment of Women by Men in Homer’s The Odyssey Women in Homer’s The Odyssey are judged mainly by looks. If important men and gods consider a woman beautiful, or if her son is a hero or important king the woman is successful. The way women in The Odyssey are treated is based on appearance, the things men want from them, and whether the woman has any power over men. During Odysseus’ journey to the underworld he sees the shades of many prominent women. We hear about their beauty, their important sons, or their affairs with gods. We hear nothing about these women’s accomplishments in their lifetime. Odysseus tells how Antiope could “boast a go