Christian Belief

Question 1

What was the role of women in the context of Eve?

Answer 1

To be a helper to men, and so man wouldn’t be lonely. Her first action is to fuck Adam. Eve is made from Adam’s rib - implies ownership.

God curses her with pain in childbearing. Does this imply her main function? Adam will rule over her.

Adam is cursed for listening to Eve. Should he (and men in future) not listen to women?

Implied Eve is stupid or gullible for listening to serpent.

Question 2

What did Aristotle think of women?

Answer 2

Weaker and colder (elements and humours)by nature than men. Matured and aged earlier. Inferiour men

Galen -physician in 2nd cent. AD thought similar - men have more heat.

Question 3

How did Aristotle and Galen view female reproduction?

Answer 3

Galen thinks women sex organs on inside because not enough heat to protrude.

Aristotle sees man as the active part in sex - seed provides form and women provide the matter and site - befitting her inferiour position.

Galen knew about ovaries, but still thought men had the greater role if not to the extent Aristotle thought

Question 4

According to Thomas Aquinas, from where did a fetus receive its form?

Answer 4

The power of the father’s semen

Question 5

How did aristotle view menstruation?

Answer 5

Another sign of imperfection. An unclean, polluting substance. Believed menstrual blood nourished fetus, that breast milk was a form of it.

Question 6

Where was it believed boys and girls developed in the womb?

Answer 6

Boys on the right, girls on the left in a “colder” environment.

Question 7

From what Christian/Jewish myth does much of the misogynistic writing come.

Answer 7

From Eve’s action of eating the forbidden fruit, (caving to temptation) and god’s condemnation of a life of toil and suffering for mankind.

Question 8

How did St. Paul view women?

Answer 8

As subject to husband’s authority

Question 9

When did marriage start to be seen as a more equal partnership, and by whom?

Answer 9

1200 onwards, by Robert Grosseteste

Question 10

How did Jacques de Vitry (1240) a churchman and crusader see women?

Answer 10

Suboordinate to husbands. Eve came from the rib, not the head, to reduce her arrogance. Women were dishonest, disobedient, arguementative. Women were lustful and without reason, needing man’s guidance

Question 11

Which woman in the Bible stood for absolute obedience, contrary to Eve.

Answer 11

The Virgin Mary

Question 12

Why didn’t the Virgin Mary improve the popular view of women?

Answer 12

Mary was seen as the exception. She had an impossible status as both virgin and mother no one could live up to.

Question 13

Christine de Pizan (early 15th cent.) argued what about women?

Answer 13

They possessed strength of character, intelligence and reason. Though should still be obedient to husbands.

Question 14

How did the law view women?

Answer 14

Not as capable individuals, but as daughters, wives, and widows. Under male control.

Question 15

What were femmes soles?

Answer 15

Women who had standing in customary law. They could conduct business on their own, bring cases to court. Wives of townsmen working independ of husbands, or noblewomen. Widows most often, found in northern France, Low Countries, England

Question 16

What was the legal state for women in Italy?

Answer 16

No women had legal independence unless emancipated, and even widows had a male legal guardian to conclude deeds and contracts.

Question 17

What was the state of women and property ownership?

Answer 17

Primogeniture and inheritance laws increasingly favoured the son in the 11-12th centuries onward. A dowry became the woman’s share of inheritance.

Question 18

Which countries allowed women to hold property through inheritance or dowry?

Answer 18

England, Scotland, France, Low Countries.

Question 19

What was the purpose of a dowry, and what happened if she became a widow?

Answer 19

It was a woman’s contribution to the marriage. She received 1/3 to 1/2 of husbands property.

Question 20

When was it usual for a woman to inherit from her father?

Answer 20

If he had no sons.

Question 21

How did the change of using cash as a dowry instead of property in the 13th century affect women?

Answer 21

It reduced their agency as land was a powerful resource over family members, tenants, and in politics.

Question 22

How was rape regarded?

Answer 22

As a crime against male property. Particularly the violation of virginity, which would make a woman less marriagable. It was more a crime against the family than the woman directly. Bracton’s Treatise (Remember). Statute of Westminster 1285 classed it as felony abduction.

Question 23

When was rape taken more seriously, and what were the consequences?

Answer 23

In cases of noblewomen, cases were taken seriously. In children as well, and the rapists may need to make a payment to her dowry to make up for loss of virginity. In several places the punishment was severe, like blinding, castration, death, though these were rarely enforced. Often times, women had to pay a higher fine for letting it happen!

Question 24

How was clothing regulated?

Answer 24

Women could only wear clothing that cost a certain amount, certain types of furs, and colours to designate status. This was law to keep costs down for men, and as the Church saw extravigance as sinful.