The Role of Women Throughout European History
Beroso Awundaga
Professor Cacoilo
Art & Women
March 7, 2017
Women’s Roles in Medieval times
-Women in medieval Europe had to make their living by the
land they lived on. Many had the domestic responsibilities such as preparing
food, looking after livestock and raising children. Also in regards to marriage
it was known the following, “Women were usually engaged to be married at age
12, and were married by 15”(Guerrilla Girls 22) One of the most common symbols
of women where the use of the distaff. The distaff was a tool that was used for
spinning flax and wool. Women often assisted their fathers and husbands, in a myriad
of tasks such as trades and crafts and even textiles, leather goods and metal
work. Women were even counted on to run shops and inns. Very few women where in
power during the middle ages. Women where often presented as oppressed and
subservient. Women that did happen to be in power usually held responsibilities
involving the abbesses of convents. This involved monasteries that housed communities
of men and women, the abbess had seniority over monks. Research conducted
stated differences in their right to "possess and inherit property, duties
to pay homage and taxes, and civil and legal rights" (Chadwick, 44). Again
women only had limited roles in society, such as stated before usually seen as
distaff’s, or worked in stores, and if they were lucky they can be abscesses of
covenant.
Women’s roles during the Renaissance period
-The roles of women changes greatly during the renaissance
era as women achieved a greater degree of equality when compared to men. Women in
the upper classes were still viewed to hold limited roles in the Renaissance
society, but still in comparison to the Middle ages women gained many more
opportunities, where they were able to acquire education, a make use of it, on
a limited scale in society. Women during the renaissance, especially those who
were wealthy enjoyed more independence in comparison to the previous
generations. The upper classes women usually had the options of either being
married or the cloister. If a married women’s husband died, then his property
or business capital, was inherited by the woman. Women even in the upper
classes were still not expected to work outside the home. In regards to lower
class women breast feeding was considered a job for them. Poorer women had a
lot of hardship in their lives, often they were servants or worked in the
fields. Sometimes they even turned to prostitution. Women growing up in the
middle class, usually worked in shops. As far as Mercantilisms was involved
this usually gave poorer women a chance to rise to the selling class. Mercantilism
was especially marked during the Renaissance period. A famous artists during
this period was Artemisia Gentilishi, and she was known for the portrayal of
women in positions of power such as Judith Slaying Holofernes. This painting
was her main achievement as an artist. It marked a turning point for the portrayal
of women during the Renaissance era. Women gaining rights and power was
especially prevalent during the Renaissance era.
-Into the 19 century, women began their struggle for
equality, where women began the fight to work outside the home and for the
right to vote, and the conception that man and women where essentially equal. Women
demanded legislation to ensure that these wants were fulfilled.
-The Middle ages and Renaissance affected Women artists work
in many ways. Such as the sexualization of women for men’s personal
satisfaction was exhibited heavily. The women
Artemisia
Gentileschi, Judith Slaying Holofernes, 1612
This painting depicts the scene of Judith beheading
Holofernes, created during the early Renaissance, this sort of shows how woman
triumph over powerful men. The effort of the women’s struggle in this painting
is most represented by the delicate face of the maid, which is grasped by the
muscular fist of Holofernes as he desperately struggles to survive.
Edith Haylar, Feeding
the Swans, 1889
Symbolic of Victorian woman and the Victorian lifestyle.
Depicted with a house and setting that is cleanly and ordered. You have refined
sensibilities that are depicted in this picture. Where the woman’s domestic
role isn’t involved in being the care taker of the child, this task is taken by
a maid or some other caretaker. The women also happens to be courted by a young
man, while the older woman is having tea with a companion. The Victorian
lifestyle was marked by complacent women, and it was mostly domestic.
Judith Leyster, A
woman Sewing by Candlelight(1633)
-Seems like she wished to be outdoors. Doesn’t seem happy
with what’s she is doing, probably making clothes for her children. She is
following her domestic role diligently.
Works Cited-
- The Guerrilla Girls' Bedside Companion to the History of Western Art. New York: Penguin Books, 1998. Print.
- Links-
- https://chnm.gmu.edu/exploring/19thcentury/womenandequality/
- http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/articles/w/women-in-the-renaissance/
- https://www.bl.uk/the-middle-ages/articles/women-in-medieval-society
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