Medieval Women: Religious Factors Flashcards
How was the tale of Adam and Eve significant in shaping religious and societal beliefs about Women?
Eve - according to religious medieval society as a cause for the downfall of mankind and root cause for all sins
Embedded in societal beliefs through this, e.g. women as cause for men’s’ destruction.
Which group of religious men in particular held the belief of women as root of sinning?
Women as dangerous + disruptive - especially for men who were to live celibately.
Blamed women for their sexual desires
What was historian Caroline Bynum’s argument about misogyny in the Middle Ages?
end 12thC the degree of misogyny was powerful that it relinquished the abilities for women to play active role in new religious orders
How did the image of Saint Mary impact beliefs about women?
St Mary = perceived as perfect pious woman and model for Christian life - devoted by Christian men + women
Virginity - praised for her virginity as if unmarried = able concentrate on God
Drawback of beliefs about St Mary.
However, despite the perception of Mary being the idealistic women, difficult for women in medieval society to achieve this as the images of Mary can be placed on a pedestal and mostly unattainable for women to achieve.
How did Joan of Arc relate to religious beliefs about women?
Joan of Arc:
-praised for her virginity
-clear devotion to God through battles, how conducted her life - revelations from saints
-however, demonstrated how women more likely be convicted as a heretic than men and blamed for superstition = aspects of patriarchy
