Antigone's gender has profound affects on the meaning of her actions. Creon himself says that the need to defeat her is all the more pressing because she is a woman. The freedom of Greek women was extremely limited; the rules and strictures placed on them were great even for the ancient world. Antigone's rebellion is especially threatening because it upsets gender roles and hierarchy. By refusing to be passive, she overturns one the fundamental rules of her culture.

( http://www.gradesaver.com/ClassicNotes/Titles/antigo... )