More handpicked essays just for you.
Renaissance and religious reformation
Catholic Church during the Renaissance
The status of women in the Renaissance
Don’t take our word for it - see why 10 million students trust us with their essay needs.
Renaissance Expectations vs. St. Angela’s Reality
During the Renaissance, women were not expected or allowed to work outside of their homes. Breastfeeding was even considered a job for lower class women (Victoria and Albert Museum).The Renaissance took place in Italy from 1300-1600. Angela Merici was one of the most influential role models for women during this time. Although women were often restricted by their gender roles, Angela Merici breaks with Renaissance conventions because she stood out in her leadership and goals for women and their education.
St. Angela Merici was an important role model for women in the Renaissance because she taught them to go against the expectation of women in the Renaissance. Women had two options: marriage or the convent (Victoria and Albert Museum). Angela was unique because she decided to take a different path. Nuns in the convent were educated, but they were not allowed to leave their cloisters. Angela could not just sit around and pray. She believed that God wanted her to do more, so she was more determined than ever to help women’s education (Angela Merici). Women in the Renaissance were also not allowed to express themselves. Angela clearly went against this rule because she distinctly
…show more content…
states that women should be educated. Angela Merici inspired women to stray from the notion that women should not be independent and responsible for themselves. Walsh 2 Angela Merici’s goal in life was to help girls get the education they deserve.
The only women that were typically educated were the rich and the nuns, but St. Angela was determined to change this speculation. She saw poor girls in her town that were not educated and wanted to help them learn. Girls were growing up without education in religion or anything at all (Angela Merici). Angela was tired of watching these girls not receive the education that they needed. This drove her to bring together a group of unmarried women that went out into the streets to gather up the poor girls that were not educated and teach them (Saint Angela Merici). Angela Merici was dedicated to women’s education and wanted to help others, no matter what it
took. Angela made big strides in accomplishing her goal of education for women. A wealthy family helped Angela open a school for young women (Angela Merici). That helped her prove to society that women can set goals and achieve them. At her school, Angela believed that the girls should be educated in all subjects, religion included (Online Catholic). Then, she started the Company of St. Ursula. These women went out to help teach young women (Angela Merici). Angela inspired these ladies to believe that they do not have to follow the basic expectations of a Renaissance woman. St. Angela set gender roles aside and helped women realize that they can be bold, strong, and independent. Saint Angela Merici said “Do something, get moving, risk new things, stick with it, get on your knees, then be ready for big surprises.” Because of St. Angela’s work for girls’ education, women are more knowledgeable and able to fight for what they believe in.
The achievement of gender equality is one of the most important movements for advancement of society. In the High Middle Ages, however, it was even more challenging to bring such sensitive debate. Christine de Pizan, a highly educated and religious woman, chose an unusual pathway for a woman in her era that she became a writer to support her family. Christine’s work, “The Treasure of the City of Ladies,” could be seen as feminist because she offered a broad view of how an ideal artisan’s wife should be.
Women in society were always put as not being equal to men. During the Renaissance, women were inferior to men; women in different classes had different roles. Low class women were expected to be housewives and take care of everything to do with the house. Working class women were expected to work for their husbands and help them run their business. They would work along side with their husbands and then go home and take care of the household. Upper class women may have had servants and workers working for them but the women were still expected to take care of the house hold.
In the story, there are many examples of women who suffer from a lack of an education. One of the Mirabal sisters, Patria, has a dream of becoming a nun, but Papa does not support her. “It started with Patria wanting to be a nun. Mamá was all for having religion in the family, but Papá did not approve in the least. More than once, he said that Patria as a nun would be a waste of a pretty girl. He only said that once in front of Mamá, but he repeated it often enough to me.” (Ch. 2 pg. 11) Papa believes that a woman cannot be more than a pretty face, that they should not pursue their interests and have an equal position in society. This describes that women were not allowed to become more than they could be. When Minerva tells her family that she aspires to become a lawyer, her mother does not take her seriously: Ay, Dios mío, spare me." Mamá sighs, but playfulness has come back into her voice. "Just what we need, skirts in the law!"(Ch. 1 Pg. 10) This shows that even Mama believes that women should not have a say in certain matters because she has a notion that women were not cut out for things like politics. Sometimes, even the women agree that they should not have equal representation as men. Mama seems to imply that it may be better for woman to preserve one’s innocence and integrity by avoiding politics. Minerva again argues that women deserve equality in their society. This is because at that time, the thought of a woman studying law was unusual. No one believed that a woman would be capable of studying law, which proved that women were not considered equal. Even though women were not given equal opportunities as men, the sisters fought for equality, and
I feel i would be classified as a renaissance man (woman) because i am working towards mastery in areas such as fine arts, knowledge, and two languages. My talents in fine arts would include acting writing singing and the piano. In the area of knowledge i would like to learn as much as i can, much like people in the renaissance. And finally i am learning two languages, american sign language and spanish, and attempting to master each and possibly making a career out of it like the ideal renaissance men Leonardo Da Vinci and Michelangelo. Over all the renaissance has effected me by giving my wild ambition a term/ concept and inspiring me to be great at everything i
Historians and scholars often overlook the part that women played in the Renaissance. Did women have a Renaissance? The period did not occur in a male only vacuum; women played an important part in the changes taking place across Europe. No matter a woman’s station in the class system, women, were still considered the sinful daughter of Eve, the downfall of man. Into this world stepped Isabella d’Este, one of the great women of the Renaissance.
Suzanne G. Cusick, who considers herself a speicialist in the life and works of Francesca Caccini, argues that Francesca was a proto-feminist and the music she composed for the Medici court contributed to the career of the Grand Duchess Christine de Lorraine of Tuscany. She therefore claims that through her works, Caccini encourages the sexuality and political aims of women in the early seventeenth century.1
From the 14th to 17th century, the Renaissance was considered a notable era of great shifts and reformation throughout Europe. From the flourishing of classical sources to the greater accessibility to education, this significant period marked the end of the Dark Ages and the birth of modern history. Yet, despite the Renaissance being an era of immense prosperity and cultural development, it was also a time of extreme societal patriarchy. For most of history, women have remained anonymous figures and have spent centuries struggling to escape the wraths of male dominance. After the upswings of the Renaissance took place, many began to question whether women were included in this notable period of resurgence. While historians have endlessly disputed this great debate, the arguments made could however not challenge nor deny the anonymity and oppression deeply rooted in the way women have been both treated and perceived during this era. Thus, through analyzing the regulations of female versus male sexuality, the ideologies about women presented in literature and philosophy as well as the life of significant female Renaissance figures, it is clear that Renaissance women did not have a period of rebirth, ultimately delaying the future development of feminine hope and emancipation.
Her chief arguing points and evidence relate to the constriction of female sexuality in comparison to male sexuality; women’s economic and political roles; women’s access to power, agency, and land; the cultural roles of women in shaping their society; and, finally, contemporary ideology about women. For her, the change in privacy and public life in the Renaissance escalated the modern division of the sexes, thus firmly making the woman into a beautiful
Even though a renaissance person was normally viewed as a man it was very possible to see women fill in the same category such as my sister did. She is currently attending the University of Central Florida and is currently the most intelligent individual I know. She is my go to person for any academic help regardless the subject, she is someone I aspire to be. While she continues to pursue the knowledge side of life she also continues to develop her physical side as well, she attempts to play various sports at family events while it doesn’t always end well she puts an effort that always radiates a genuine desire to learn. She has a positive outlook on every situation that continues to keep me focused and down to earth. I aspire to be like her, all of her accomplishments gave me a desire to match her accomplishments and then pass them with my own. She has influenced me on a daily bases helping me through the good and bad days with her amazing advice, she has even helped me in choosing my career as a pediatric speech
The Renaissance gave more light to philosophy, and philosophers thought everyone is equal. There was a female ruler, and art put women in the public eye. Yet, women weren't allowed to take part as much as men, and upper class women had even less rights than peasant women. Queen Elizabeth affected the West in many ways. She refused to marry until the day she died, and she defeated the Spanish Armada. Her supporting the arts also helped plays and paintings bring women more into the public eye. Still, women still had less rights than men at the time. Most philosophers were men and many of them preached of how men were more powerful than women. And in contrast to popular belief, upper class women had even less rights than peasant women at the time. Upper class women were treated as mere housewives, which limited the rights of women because the most powerful women at the time were illiterate. Giving them little power compared to
The definition of Renaissance women is fundamentally important in William Shakespeare's play Othello. One of the major causes of Othello's tragedy is his belief that Desdemona is not chaste. According to the men of the Renaissance, chastity, silence, and obedience are three attributes that define Renaissance women. Although Othello takes place during the Renaissance, the women in the play, Bianca, Desdemona and Emilia, defy traditional norms by lacking at least one of the major attributes defining women; Bianca's lack of chastity is clearly displayed when she unlawfully sleeps with Cassio; Desdemona's lack of silence is clearly displayed when she constantly urges Othello to give Cassio's position back. However, in the last two acts, Emilia displays the strongest challenge to the definition of Renaissance women as silent, chaste, and obedient, mainly to defend Desdemona.
Cloud, Amanda. Gender Roles of Women in the Renaissance. n.d. Web. 7 Nov. 2009. < http://www2.cedarcrest.edu/academic/eng/lfletcher/shrew/acloud.htm >.
In 1849 Florence went abroad to study the European hospital system. In 1853 she became the superintendent for the Hospital for Invalid Gentlewomen in London. In 1854 Florence raised the economic and productive aspect of women's status by volunteering to run all the nursing duties during the Crimean War. With her efforts the mortality rates of the sick and wounded soldiers was reduced. While being a nurse was her profession and what she was known for, she used statistics to achieve...
The Renaissance was the rebirth of Europe and it all started in the city of Florence. Florence and everything that made a standard Renaissance city: painters, sculptors, writers, architects, and a vivid culture. Soon all of Europe would follow in Florence’s footsteps and “the setting is so rich, varied, rambunctious, and inventive as Italy in the Renaissance” (Cohen 1). The painters and sculptors defined Renaissance culture and could actually make a living because they were being sponsored.
The social lives of people were greatly influenced by advancements in education during the Renaissance. More people then ever before were send to schools and educated. Schools for girls were built, and they were taught sewing, reading, writing, and dancing. Some of these schools even had teachers for singing and playing instruments. Upper class women were taught language, philosophy, theology and mathematics. But their education only prepared them for social life at home. Women lost political power, access to property and their role in shaping society.