Christine De Pizan's View Of Women

“Each ought to maintain her proper place in society and, along with this, her particular lifestyle,” writes Christine de Pizan. Described by many as a protofeminist, de Pizan holds true to the modern feminist standing that women deserve more than they are given. In her writing, The Book of the City of the Ladies, she describes six different types of women in society. It is important to look at the time in which she wrote the piece, in the late fourteenth and early fifteenth century— a time when women had no voice. Through extraneous methods, de Pizan forges her own voice and ultimately brings women to be viewed as more than just things. Though de Pizan never argues that women are equal to men in any way, she gives women a place that they belong.

The way de Pizan organizes the piece is very classist— as is most of her writing. It is evident that though the wives of merchants are wealthy, they are below the noble class. As a noblewoman herself, de Pizan criticizes this class very harshly, saying things such as, “…for though these women take upon themselves such status of great ladies or princesses, by no means are they really such, and they cannot be called so (de Pizan).” In society, these women were looked up to. Though not in the noble class, other women sought to be as luxurious as they. But de Pizan continues to warn these women to stay in their class, “So, no matter how great their wealth, it is better for them to wear suitable clothes…well adapted to their lives, without any pretentions to being something other than what they are (de Pizan).” Socially, she argues that the women are more “superfluous” than need be (de Pizan). In her example of the woman and her laying in for her child, she explains that the gathering was overly lavish and lacking in meaning. She does this to exemplify the type of woman that falls into this group. She also makes a point to say that the woman “surpassed” the ritual baths and other formalities of a laying in (de Pizan). This is important because later in the section she discusses religion and it seems as though she is warning against overdoing possessions because, “this earthly journey is short and that

These women are not as well off as the aforementioned groups of women. These women are expected to not only fit into their place in society, but also to guide their husband in the right financial place. Where widows were to get advisors to help make their decisions, artisans’ wives were to “…firmly…convince him to accept any work,” unless he could not complete it with skill. This woman was incharge of reigning in her husband. De Pizan writes that “she should also encourage her husband to let them live within their income so that their expenses will not be greater than their earnings, (de Pizan).” This is crucial for this time period because there was nowhere an artisan could get a loan if he were in trouble. The wife was to ensure that he made a proper income, did not accept credit, and did his work. She was the backbone to the operation, and ensured that the family was kept afloat. Women of this group “must make sure that she knows the craft so well that she can direct the workmen if her husband is not there and reprove them if they do not work well (de Pizan).” These woman held so much power yet none at all. In society they were not to gossip but within their husbands business they were able to command workers. How is it that a woman can be in charge of a group but not yet in charge of herself? She was also tasked with tending the house. De Pizan picks fun of women in this group, as they are the