Although most of the gladiators were men, there were also a small number of women who participated in these contests. These female gladiators were known as 'gladiatrices' and they fought alongside their male counterparts in the arena. They were typically of lower social status and were often seen as a form of entertainment for the Roman public. Female gladiators would fight each other in the arena, or sometimes against male gladiators. They used various weapons, including swords, spears, and nets, and were often highly skilled in combat.