WOMEN OF THE MIDDLE AGES

3 Pages 762 Words

“WOMEN OF THE MIDDLE AGES”
Dr. James Pavlin

Women of the Middle Ages
Many argue and assume that the position of women hardly changed throughout the Middle Ages. According to various researchers and historians, there was definitely some form of a revolution toward the female sex. Up until the twelfth century, women were ignored in literature. Either they were briefly mentioned in passing, or they were used to describe subservient status. They had no say in marriage issues and were unable to inherit any possessions. Many other restrictions prohibited women to have many of the rights and freedoms males were able to exercise and enjoy. According to Jo Ann McNamara and Suzanne F. Wemple, “Women were able to ensure their independence within the limits of whatever social sphere they occupied by their control of some property of their own” (Sherman 145). This proves that the lives of the women of the Middle Ages had greatly improved from previous centuries.
All though many aspects of their lives seemed to be changing for the better, there was always that one that would place a restraint on the women of that society. This minor restraint was social class. Social status influenced the sort of life a medieval woman might lead. Many women either belonged to the upper class, referred to as the urban patriciate class, or to the lower class, named the artisan class.
The women who belonged to the urban patriciate were very isolated from society and were by far, the most economically dependent. As widows, these women were given the right to inherit property, sign contracts, and were able to sue anyone in court, on their own behalf. The patrician widows were able to become investors, unlike the women of the artisan class.
All though of a lower social status, the roles of women among the artisan class were equally important to the society of the Middle Ages. Among the interdependent peasant communities, medieval coun...