western women in religion adn writting
Historically women and western culture have not been compatible one another. This is probably due to the fact that most of history has been recorded under a patriarchal rule. Western society has been made to look as if it was always been a patriarchal one. This has influence how history was recorded and preserved. As time has passed evidence has been found that the Ancient Mediterranean and Renaissance societies have not always been based on a system in which men held all high positions of power. Despite this knowledge, present day historians have been reluctant to accept the idea that perhaps Mediterranean and Renaissance Women in ancient history were highly educated and many held high positions of power (Gosline, 25). Many women during this period were writers, philosophers, or lawyers. Others even held positions of power in religion. Yet little can be found in more contemporary history books regarding these women. This paper will focus its attention some of the literature! More recent research has shown that Mediterranean (Egyptian, Greek, and Roman) women of all periods participated extensively in the most sacrosanct aspects of worship. But in order to minimize the effects of their titles, h
In my opinion it interests me that so many women where denied to write and publish there own works. The men tying to discourage them and making it seem as I sin for a woman to become a writer even though they were better writer then most male writer during the antiquity and renaissance period. All the struggle that they had to go through and did not get any reconciliation until maybe around the 1900 century. Woman being called names and being put down for expressing their feels or though on paper. Despite all the evidence about women in religious positions, historians have gone to great extremes to exclude women of high positions from historical documents. Some have even denied their existence: "there has never been any mention of women filling strictly sacerdotal offices." (Rossi, 74) According to Gosline, some Egyptologists do not consider the title held by women in religion, as professional (Gosline, 26). Western Culture views of women have been placed upon women in ancient times perhaps to discourage western women from seeking the equality or status that women of the Mediterranean had during the Late Dynastic era. Even after the development of feminism in Europe and America, anthropologist ignored and discredited any evidence that women in other societies held positions of power (29). Noblewomen had more to lose than the lower class women and therefore were often more careful with their writing. Her husband and parents leaving her with no means of living may disavow an aggressive woman writer. Such was the case of Elizabeth Cary (Krontiris 63). Women of the upper class tend to display more reluctance to publish their work (Krontiris 64). Krontiris, Tina. Oppositional Voices: Women as Writers and Translators of Literature in the English Renaissance.London: Routledge; New York, NY: Routledge, 1992. One woman who did not follow these typical rules of writing was Aphra Behn, a writer in the late 1600's. She did not apologize for her writings and she made it clear she wanted to make a living off of her writings (Hobby 34). She was a famous outcast of the time and often referred to when warning other women writers of the dangers of being publicly known (Hobby 41). The title of deaconess had a very specific and short-lived significance in the eastern regions of the Mediterranean. This was a ministry with both a pastoral and liturgical function. Everywhere else the title of deaconess was used as an honorific title for the wife of a deacon, a widow of distinction, or for the superior of a convent (Rossi, 78). Of the three positions, only that one reserved for the superior of a convent required education because of the leadership responsibilities. In the beginning of this period, humanists encouraged both men and women to read and receive a good education. Women were limited though to religious work and material that would make them better wives (Krontiris 6). Although they were limited to subject matter it was a start for women's public freedom. More freedom for women meant more responsibility for the husbands in supervising the extent of their wives education and behavior within the society (Krontiris 5). Women's behavior reflected the man's ability to control his daughter or wife. This is part of the reason why the rules became stricter for women. "If her reputation for 'modesty' was brought into question in any way...both she and her relatives would meet social condemnation (Hobby 17). In the Jewish communities women held the office of "ruler of the synagogue", elders, and "mother of the synagogue". The education these women received provided a foundation for their leadership role in the community. Torjesen gives an example of a Jewish leader (Priscilla) who used her knowledge of Law to further the early Christian movement. Other Jewish women devoted their time to communal scholarship in which they studied, discussed and debated with other men and women (20). The title of Prophetess was give to women
Some common words found in the essay are:
Herbert Noblewoman, Independent Churches, Europe America, Wife Amon, Greek Roman, According Torjesen, Law Christian, Renaissance Women, Aphra Behn, Elizabeth Cary, women writers, held positions, held positions power, york ny, positions power, god's wife, evidence women, women ancient, woman writer, wife amon, religious translations, god's wife amon, educated women mediterranean, feminist studies religion, journal feminist studies,
Approximate Word count = 2778
Approximate Pages = 11 (250 words per page double spaced)
|
