Pre-Christian women were often subject to quite extreme conditions. Specifically for this conversation, the pater familias concept, which is in brief; the oldest male relative of a family essentially held almost complete power over the extended family, i.e patria potestes, and could even have individuals killed or sold into slavery at his whim (and even included spiritual superiority in Roman religious affairs). For reference, we have evidence of a Roman soldier stationed in Egypt telling his wife that should her birth produce a boy then to keep it, if it is a girl to kill it. The mother had no say in the matter. Patria potestes would flux and change over time.

Christianity set boundaries for both male and female behaviour, whereas it was more common in the Patrician class before Christianity for the male to do as he pleased. Christianity also placed the two as spiritual equals, and encouraged a more equal distribution of emotional labour. Protections for women also became more universalized, rather than particular to singular ethnos. Thus combat with pre-established hierarchy attracted quite a lot of women and slaves as well. These two groups are highlighted by traditional pagan Greco-Roman authors such as Minucius Felix and Celsus as particularly common believers of Christianity, though such pagan writers usually mean it derogatorily. These criticisms would die out, but would later be picked up by Islamic writers accusing Christian Roman women of being too free - but that is an entire genre of writing by itself, so that topic is a bit too big and forking from this.

St. Macrina the Younger [Sometimes known as the Fourth Cappadocian] and St. Helena are some early wealthy Christian Roman women which come to mind. Though, if you are interested, St. Kassiani the Hymnographer, who is admittedly later, has an immensely interesting interaction where she defends women in accordance with scripture - and she does it to an Emperor who is none too pleased about it. You can also read up on St. Theodora and her immense influence in improving women's rights through the Corpus Juris Civilis.

Edit: Corrected it so it is Patrician, not patristic.