Patlagean's doctoral thesis was published in 1977, "Pauvreté économique et pauvreté sociale à Byzance, 4e-7e siècles" developed an argument about inherent inequality in the status of women in the eastern Roman empire.
Patlagean's doctoral thesis, entitled "Pauvreté économique et pauvreté sociale à Byzance, 4e-7e siècles", was published in 1977. In it, Patlagean developed ideas about inherent inequality in the status of women in the eastern Roman empire.