Spartan culture was strongly communal, patriotic, militaristic, hierarchical, and patriarchal. As in most other city states, the women had little power or education. The main spheres in which women were expected to be active were domestic. The women of the household, whether slave or free, were responsible for two major tasks, food preparation and making clothing. In poorer households this might involve working in the fields whereas in richer households, this would involve supervision of slaves. Among the very small upper class of Spartan citizens, males spent most of their time in communal activities, including communal dining with other men, and male children were removed from their homes to be reared communally.