1) At the other extreme, lies the even more influential concept of femininity, which is usually identified with Eve. .

             God first created man and placed him in the Garden of Eden. In answer to Adam's loneliness, God created woman from his rib. In Genesis, the temptation of eating fruit from the only tree forbidden by God, was too much for Eve to resist. She easily succumbed, after being lured by the serpent. As if it were not enough to sin against God, she goes on to convince Adam to partake in the act as well. This transgression results in God's expulsion of Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden and the subsequent procreation of children. This story was interpreted by the Church as a true event that reflects the nature of men and women. Women are driven by sexual urges and lust, while men are driven by reason. .

             Because of this long held belief, women in the Renaissance were primarily given the responsibilities of childbirth and caring for the newborn. The main goal of a woman's existence in society was to have as many children as her physiological condition would allow. Though this was true among women of the lower classes, women of the nobility who did not have to breast feed their own children could produce offspring at an even quicker rate. As professor King points out: "The fertility of the rich women in France has been termed 'excessive,' in England, 'appallingly high.'" (p.2).

             Childbirth, however, was very dangerous for the mother as well as for the child. Because of the primitive conditions and the lack of medical knowledge, child bearing was something that was dreaded by most women of the time. The potential for complications during labor was alarmingly high for both the mother and child. As Professor King points out, ten percent of Renaissance women died as a result of giving birth. In many cases, even if both mother and child were to survive, they faced further obstacles. Many mothers would later die of anemia, infection or other sicknesses caused by their poor health condition.