Medieval Oppression Of Women

Throughout this course, we learned that women’s studies originated as a concern at the time that “women and men noticed the absence, misrepresentation, and trivialization of women [in addition to] the ways women were systematically excluded from many positions of power and authority” (Shaw, Lee 1). In the past, men had more privileges than women. Women have battled for centuries against certain patterns of inadequacy that all women experience. Every culture and customs has divergent female

Throughout History, women have been permanently oppressed and treated as subordinate to men. They have been considered mentally weak and biologically inferior. The power of their opinion has been limited and in many situations ignored, being condemned to live in that condition for several years. Therefore, we can conclude that the only responsible for strengthening this characterization of women’s inferiority is our society.

Life in the medieval society was one of the most painful for women. It was evident by the high level of exploitation and oppression of women. At a time when wealthy men enjoyed stylish life, women had very hard times. Comfort was not a privilege but a luxury that only few women could afford. Men completely dominated the society and any concrete decision to be made was their preserve (Spielvogel 179). Women were not consulted even in matters that directly affected their lives; they had little or no say in the decision making process.

For centuries men have undermined and mistreated women because of their gender. As Virginia Woolf mentions when she picked up a history book about the life during the Elizabethan era she was astonished to find that one of the only things that she could find is that women were being beaten and how it was a recognized right of the man. She goes on to read that any woman could be beaten in public and that many people would act nonchalant. Woolf reads about how in the history of England marriage was not about personal affairs but it was a deal between two families. Women did not have the same rights that that men had back in the 18th century. In that era woman would not have time to pursue the art of writing, since they were married by the age of fifteen or sixteen whether they liked it or not. We can compare the differences between the social status of women from before the 18th century and modern times. However, even having better equality laws in society now, women are still at a disadvantaged by some of the challenges that were faced in the past.

In the world today, women have a say in what they want to do and things that they desire to do. Back in the day, before the 1800’s, women had to be submissive to their male counterparts and do according to what was required of them. In the end, this led to the demeaning of the woman and the concept that women were inferior to men. Even though this concept and perception changed, there have been some countries and regions of the world that have not yet recognized the equality that women deserve. Such areas do not allow women to vote, attend school, have a say in the community, and the women are at the mercy of their husbands, fathers or male superiors (Hartmann, Susan M).

“The world is still sexist.” — Barbara Broccoli. From the creation story to modern day, women and men still struggle with a power dynamic of inferiority and superiority. The problem of sexism has been ever-present throughout history, and although it has been acknowledged by many, it has not been eradicated or resolved. Although the acknowledgment of sexism has grown over the course of the modern era, it is heavily rooted in society’s developmental process, which makes it continuously difficult to annihilate. Furthermore, throughout many historical texts, women are often represented as objects instead of real people. Within texts, such as the Epic of Gilgamesh, the Bible, the Quran, and the Torah, women are constantly regarded as inferiors instead of equals with men. Throughout these texts, there is a clear separation between the treatment of men and women, with women always being referred to as property.

For an immense period of time, society deemed women as inferior to men. However, through many protests and the growing acceptance of women, society continues to increasingly close the gap between the two genders. The differences in the societal expectations of women in the early 1900’s and 1970’s compared to the expectations of women in modern society demonstrates this improvement. Although women’s oppression dramatically improved over the past century, it persists as an apparent issue in today’s society.

Women of Medieval Times In the beginning of the Middle Ages, women of higher class owned land and had a high social reputation, as if they were equal to men. As the 12th century hit, female roles started to fall apart. Women in the upper class were now below their husbands. Females could not attend school and they were also excluded from politics because men thought they were not fit to understand them.

During the Medieval time period that Canterbury Tales was written in, there was a general depiction of women that they weren’t even looked at as humans, but looked at as objects. Women were thought of as weak, untrustworthy, and even less intelligent beings than men. Chaucer did not necessarily agree with the general consensus of women during the time period. Now there are tales that go along with the general impression of women, but there are also signs that Chaucer looked at women for what they really are and he might have saw them as equal beings. Chaucer was a great mind and that mind was far past his time, as he went against the tide when he wrote and he was not afraid to write whatever came to his head. Canterbury tales can show us what women had to go through in medieval times, and through Chaucer’s tales we can see what he thought of how women were were perceived and treated.

What is a woman’s role in society? Today this question would cause uproar of answers from both feminists and anti-feminists. Despite the disagreement, the most popular response would be, without a doubt, that women’s role in society is equal to men’s. Currently, women can vote, hold a stable job, and lead a successful life without a husband. However, back in medieval times there were no such luxuries for women. Examples of their treatment can be found in Chaucer’s story, The Knights Tale. From being forced into marriage, to oppression by men, it is clear to see that women were treated as objects.

Women withstood a multitude of limitations in the medieval era. Due to the political, social, and religious restrictions women encountered, historians neglected to realize that they demonstrated agency. The female experience is something that has been overlooked until recently. Unfortunately, without the knowledge of how women found ways to exert their power, we are experiencing a deficit of knowledge in this period. Through the close examination of the primary sources: The Gospel of Mary, Dhouda’s Liber Manualis, and Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales, the creative means of female force are displayed.

It’s a well-known fact that in history women weren’t always treated the best. They were often treated as little more than the property of a man, be it their father or their husband. The only time women would be able to get away from that, was if she was widowed, although she might not always manage it then, or if she became a nun which wasn't always possible especially after The Protestant Reformation and doing away with nunneries and monasteries.

During the time of the crusades being the middle ages women rights were very limited because of the point that men held against women meant that they were unable to vote during 1096-1204. during the time of the crusades the role for voting or any type of high roles for women weren't allowed to participate in any of those such roles because it was stated that those roles were roles that only males should be doing. if a women was to go against their husband or male “figure” they would be sentence to death or to possible imprisonment is they was within your religion. but other wise mist cultures followed thought with the death sentence. Thats why is was extremely hard for women to be able to hold

This research paper on the role of women in the Middle Ages proposes to describe the story of women that was treated as second class citizens. This paper will highlight the many issues that women was faced with in the Middle Ages. Hard working, child bearing women whose life was revolved around men and their needs.

The oppression of women is based on false assumption and preconceived notions by the male domination world, has been obvious and responsible for paving the way for serious gender issues to emerge. Due to the narrow realms of activity in society, deprived from essential human rights, restricted educations scope, open to unhealthy physical and mental abuse, this society has not given women the opportunity to rise to their full potential. The impact of gender discrimination has not only affected the future of the women today but it has resulted in the slow progress of human mind in general.