The Existence of Medieval Gender Archetypes in Present Day Culture

3403 Words7 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Negative portrayal of women in the media

The Existence of Medieval Gender Archetypes in Present Day Culture

One of the aspects of the Middle Ages which is explored by numerous scholars today is that of the antifeminist stereotypes which pervaded literature and cultural mores during the period. In an era governed by men, the fact that women were treated as inferior is unsurprising; archetypal visions of femininity fit neatly into medieval history. However, most people would like to believe that such pigeonholing has been left in the past, allowing for more liberated times in which women are portrayed realistically and as the equals of men.

It is undeniably true that an equality of the sexes exists today that was not even imagined in the medieval era. However, this rise in respect for women does not guarantee that all of the prejudices and stereotypes from preceding centuries have fallen by the wayside; on the contrary, most of the same archetypes are alive and well, even if modified to suit a new world. From the unattainably perfect virgin to the sexually insatiable temptress, these images appear throughout modern culture-but the disturbing nature of their existence is made far worse by the complacency with which women accept and further them. In many places, control of the image of women has passed into their own hands, yet broad generalizations and negative suggestions continue to fill daily life.

Though images of women may cluster in many categories, the basic medieval archetypes are these: foremost is the Courtly Lady, a physically perfect and emotionally restrained creature that any gallant knight would pine for, the subject of innumerable poems. Her supporting cast include the lascivious Wanton Woman, a subhuman creature designed to tempt and torture men...

... middle of paper ...

...owing Up Female With the Mass Media. New York: Times Books, 1995.

Farhi, Paul and Megan Rosenfeld. "Made in America." 10 April 2003. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/inatl/longterm/mia/part1.htm

"4 Ways to Punish a Naughty Boy." Cosmopolitan Apr. 2003: 166.

Goins, Liesa. "Flirting Moves No Man Can Resist." Cosmopolitan Apr. 2003: 146-48.

Keyishian, Amy. "Chick Flick Survival Guide." Maxim Apr. 2003: 78-82.

Lewis, Carol. "Botox Cosmetic: A Look at Looking Good." FDA Consumer Magazine. 6 April 2003. http://www.fda.gov/fdac/features/2002/402_botox.html

Lont, Cynthia M. Women and Media: Content/ Careers/ Criticism. Scarborough: Nelson Canada, 1995.

Rogers, Mary F. Barbie Culture. Thousand Oaks: SAGE Publications, 1999.

Straus, Alex. "Access Granted." Maxim Apr. 2003: 164-68.

Walsh, John. "Top Gear: Bachelor Pad." Maxim Apr. 2003: 194-96.

Show More
Related

  • Gender Roles In 'Lanval' By Geoffrey Chaucer

    1240 Words  | 3 Pages

    Traditional female characteristics and female unrest are underscored in literary works of the Middle Ages. Although patriarchal views were firmly established back then, traces of female contempt for such beliefs could be found in several popular literary works. Female characters’ opposition to societal norms serves to create humor and wish- fulfillment for female and male audiences to enjoy. “Lanval” by Marie De France and “The Wife of Bath’s Tale” by Geoffrey Chaucer both show subversion of patriarchal attitudes by displaying the women in the text as superior or equal to the men. However, “The Wife of Bath’s Tale” also incorporates conventional societal ideas by including degradation of women and mistreatment of a wife by her husband.

    Read More

  • Comparing The Wife of Bath and The Canterbury Tales

    1115 Words  | 3 Pages

    Looking back through many historical time periods, people are able to observe the fact that women were generally discriminated against and oppressed in almost any society. However, these periods also came with women that defied the stereotype of their sex. They spoke out against this discrimination with a great amount of intelligence and strength with almost no fear of the harsh consequences that could be laid out by the men of their time. During the Medieval era, religion played a major role in the shaping of this pessimistic viewpoint about women. The common belief of the patriarchal-based society was that women were direct descendants of Eve from The Bible; therefore, they were responsible for the fall of mankind. All of Eve’s characteristics from the biblical story were believed to be the same traits of medieval women. Of course, this did not come without argument. Two medieval women worked to defy the female stereotype, the first being the fictional character called The Wife of Bath from Geoffrey Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales. The second woman, named Margery Kempe, was a real human being with the first English autobiography written about her called The Book of Margery Kempe. In these two texts, The Wife of Bath and Margery Kempe choose to act uniquely compared to other Christians in the medieval time period because of the way religion is interpreted by them. As a result, the women view themselves as having power and qualities that normal women of their society did not.

    Read More

  • Botulism, the Deadly Toxin

    1662 Words  | 4 Pages

    The low down on the Botox firm up. (2002, October). Today’s science. Retrieved from http://tsof.infobaselearning.com/recordurl.aspx?wid=97060&ID=19082

    Read More

  • Jewish Women in Medieval Ashkenaz

    1548 Words  | 4 Pages

    Baumgarten, Elisheva, Oxford Handbook of Women and Gender in Medieval Europe (New York: Oxford University Press, 2013)

    Read More

  • Sir Gawain And The Green Knight Analysis

    2165 Words  | 5 Pages

    “Culture does not make people. People make culture” said Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, a Nigerian writer and educator, in a presentation on feminism in a TedTalk. The culture in which Sir Gawain and the Green Knight was written was misogynistic and it shows in the writing of the poem. Medieval cultural misogyny manifests itself in multiple ways in SGGK. This paper will examine the negative relationships between Sir Gawain and the Green Knight and gender by discussing: the representation of female characters, gendered violence, and Christianity in the Middle Ages.

    Read More

  • The Post American World, by Fareed Zakaria and The World is Flat, by Thomas Friedman

    806 Words  | 2 Pages

    As Americans we have to start to comprehend that the world around us is changing technologically, politically, and economically. In “The Last Superpower” an excerpt from the book The Post American World by Fareed Zakaria published in 2008. Zakaria emphasizes on these changes. Thomas Friedman the author of “The World is Flat” a piece from the book The World is Flat: A brief history of the twenty-first century published in 2005 also emphasizes on the same changes currently happening in the world. Zakaria and Friedman define these changes as globalization. The obvious common ground shared by both authors is their representation of globalization and the effects that it has and will continue to have on modern life. In contrast to sharing the same main topic both authors take a drastically different approach on how the relay their information to the audience. The differences displayed are mainly due to their personal and educational backgrounds, definitions of globalization as well as the individual writing styles of each author.

    Read More

  • The Pros And Cons Of Breastfeeding

    1147 Words  | 3 Pages

    There are a number of tough decisions expectant parents must face during the nine months before their new baby arrives. One of the most difficult choices is surely whether to breastfeed or formula feed their child. Many new mothers think breastfeeding is too demanding, time consuming, and will leave the mother unable to feed her child in public. Another problem a new mother may encounter is the worry that her supply of milk is not enough to satisfy the child. Some parents question the benefits of breastfeeding and believe that formula feeding is just as beneficial towards their child’s overall health and wellbeing. The truth is, breastfeeding may have its challenges, but there are plenty of resources available to mothers that can help on their

    Read More

  • Breast Feeding Across Cultures

    865 Words  | 2 Pages

    Breast feeding has been in practice for a very long time, as early as 2000 BC. Before the invention of formula, bottles, and pumps this was the safest most common way for a mother to feed their infants. In fact, for 99% of human history breast milk was the sole source of nutrition for children until the age of two. In today’s society there are many different and opposing personal stand points on where or not a mother should breast feed their children. It is a very controversial topic with many variables. In breast feeding there are several benefits, reasons, and cultural effects that go into making the decision to engage or stay away from breast feeding. There is also historical causes and cultural differences that lead influence a mothers choice to engage in breast feeding.

    Read More

  • Breastfeeding: A Time-Honored Nutrition for Newborns

    1111 Words  | 3 Pages

    mother’s milk. It a practice that has been passed down from generation to generation since the beginning of our existence. It has proven to be an efficient and healthy way to feed newborns. Several research have shown numerous benefits of breastfeeding. For example, when it comes to the comparison of breast milk and formula milk, studies have shown that formula milk can be harder for babies to digest. This is due to the fact that formula milk is created from cows and babies, stomachs have a hard time digesting and adjusting to it. In addition, the overall quality of formula milk lack the critical nutritions such as antibodies, which breast milk provides to help fight of infections and prevent diseases. As a result, the benefits of

    Read More

  • Benefits Of Breastfeeding

    1166 Words  | 3 Pages

    Breastfeeding is a highly debated topic amongst mothers across the world. Every mother has the choice to breastfeed or bottle fed their infant. Although everyone is entitled to their own opinion and choice, it is scientifically proven that breast milk is more beneficial for the infant’s health and development and the mother. Breast milk contains extremely beneficial vitamins and nutrients and also has the ability to change according to the infant’s growth and development. Formula companies try to mock breast milk to the best they can, although it cannot be completely composed the same. “Breastfeeding offers immunological and allergy protection to the infant, is economical and convenient as it is always fresh and the right temperature, and provides a great opportunity for the mother and infant to bond” (p. 1052, Potter & Perry, 2011). Research has proven that breast milk is the most

    Read More

  • The World is Flat -Chapters 7 & 8

    2161 Words  | 5 Pages

    Constant change and a flat, global competitive market landscape were described by Thomas Friedman, author of The World is Flat, as triple convergence and was a result of the ten flatteners. Friedman also stated that in “Globalization 1.0, countries had to think globally. In Globalization 2.0, companies had to think globally to thrive, or at least survive. In Globalization 3.0, individuals have to think globally to thrive, or at least survive.” (Friedman, 2007) The concept of needing individuals to think globally and thrive in the market led Friedman to travel and report on various educational cultures across the world. Friedman was determined to find “the right stuff” to make the youth in future generations competitive globally.

    Read More

  • Mothers and Children Benefit from Breastfeeding

    877 Words  | 2 Pages

    Wagner, C. L., Anderson, D. M., & Pittard III, W. B. (June 1996). Special properties of human milk. Clinical Pediatrics , p 283.

    Read More

  • Treatment of Women in Ancient Literature

    2408 Words  | 5 Pages

    Women were often subjects of intense focus in ancient literary works. In Sarah Pomeroy’s introduction of her text Goddesses, Whores, Wives, and Slaves, she writes, “Women pervade nearly every genre of classical literature, yet often the bias of the author distorts the information” (x). It is evident in literature that the social roles of women were more restricted than the roles of men. And since the majority of early literature was written by men, misogyny tends to taint much of it. The female characters are usually given negative traits of deception, temptation, selfishness, and seduction. Women were controlled, contained, and exploited. In early literature, women are seen as objects of possession, forces deadly to men, cunning, passive, shameful, and often less honorable than men. Literature reflects the societal beliefs and attitudes of an era and the consistency of these beliefs and attitudes toward women and the roles women play has endured through the centuries in literature. Women begin at a disadvantage according to these societal definitions. In a world run by competing men, women were viewed as property—prizes of contests, booty of battle and the more power men had over these possessions the more prestigious the man. When reading ancient literature one finds that women are often not only prizes, but they were responsible for luring or seducing men into damnation by using their feminine traits.

    Read More

  • Thomas Friedman's The World Is Flat

    436 Words  | 1 Pages

    Thomas Friedman delivers the definition of “The World is Flat” in the introduction to the book. Friedman states that flattening the world means “equalizing, because the flattening forces are empowering more and more individuals today to reach farther faster, deeper, and cheaper than ever before” (Friedman 9). Friedman also goes on to state that flattening is an “equalizing opportunity, by giving many more people the tools and ability to connect, compete, and collaborate.” This means that the everyone in the world has a level playing field to compete on because of tools that have been created to empower them. Everyone has the ability to connect, compete, and collaborate on a global scale which

    Read More

  • The Portrayal of Women in Advertising

    2734 Words  | 6 Pages

    Women – beautiful, strong matriarchal forces that drive and define a portion of the society in which we live – are poised and confident individuals who embody the essence of determination, ambition, beauty, and character. Incomprehensible and extraordinary, women are persons who possess an immense amount of depth, culture, and sophistication. Society’s incapability of understanding the frame of mind and diversity that exists within the female population has created a need to condemn the method in which women think and feel, therefore causing the rise of “male-over-female” domination – sexism. Sexism is society’s most common form of discrimination; the need to have gender based separation reveals our culture’s reluctance to embrace new ideas, people, and concepts. This is common in various aspects of human life – jobs, households, sports, and the most widespread – the media. In the media, sexism is revealed through the various submissive, sometimes foolish, and powerless roles played by female models; because of these roles women have become overlooked, ignored, disregarded – easy to look at, but so hard to see.

    Read More

More about The Existence of Medieval Gender Archetypes in Present Day Culture

Open Document