Female Perspectives: The Overlooked Women of the Renaissance

785 Words2 Pages

Women of the Renaissance

After the Middle Ages, Europe experienced a Renaissance, or an era of rebirth. This era provided Europe with new discoveries and advancements in the areas of geography, politics, social, economic and culture. It lasted between 1300-1500 and is considered the transition from medieval times to the early modern world. Some notable people from this area are Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vici, Raphael and Donatello. However, the group most often overlooked during this period were women. In Joan Kelly-Gadol's essay "Did Women Have a Renaissance," she stated that although that it was a time for new developments and rebirth, it mostly benefited men. Although not talked about in full depth in history textbooks, women were a viable …show more content…

The woman had to have blonde hair, if not, the hair would be dyed. It also required to have high foreheads, achieved by shortening the hairline by plucking hair with tweezers. Women needed pale skin and a long neck in order to be considered beautiful. People in the Renaissance believed that beauty on the outside meant that they were beautiful on the inside as well. Their personality had to fit the ideas of the patriarchy. Women had to be quiet, respectful, had no problem with being controlled by men, and must enjoy the attention from men for being a fair …show more content…

Witch-hunts were tied to the religious aspect of the renaissance. These women typically spoke out against the church and were accused of black magic, leading them to their death. In the Catholic religion, women were typically nuns, but other than that not much is known about women and the church during the Renaissance.

Women during the Renaissance cannot be seen as today's definition of feminism. According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, feminism can be described as the theory of the political, economic, and social equality of the sexes. In the Renaissance, women always knew where their place was and nothing could be done about, Sure there were some women who decided to take action but they were quickly silenced, leaving other women with no hope. Women also were brought up this way so to them, this was normal to them.

It is clear that women of the Renaissance experienced hardships and injustices throughout their lives. Women had to be "perfect" and not question the authority of men. Obviously, the times have changed but we should never forget how the women of the Renaissance were treated and how much improvement was

Show More
Related

  • Did Women Benefit From The Renaissance

    1294 Words  | 3 Pages

    There were many ways women benefited from the Renaissance. The Renaissance gave more light to philosophy, there was a female ruler, and art put them in the public eye. There also many ways in which The Renaissance did not impact the lives of women at all. Women weren't allowed to take part as much men. Upper class women had even fewer rights than peasant women.

    Read More

  • Women In Renaissance Florence

    1802 Words  | 4 Pages

    In the traditional political history of Italy the people outside of the ruling class of the society were rarely studied. Only with the use of social history did the issues of class and gender begin to be debated by scholars. Numerous recent articles have done a great job of analysing particularly men of high status. In this paper I will look at the lower classes of Renaissance Florence. More specifically, I will center my focus on the lives of women during this era, how they were treated and viewed by people of other classes and how women were viewed and treated by men.

    Read More

  • Gender Roles: Men and Women from the Anglo-Saxon to the Renaissance Era Part 1

    1199 Words  | 3 Pages

    Wiesner-Hanks, Merry E. "Do Women Need The Renaissance?" Gender & History 20.3 (2008): 539-557. Academic Search Complete. Web. 13 Mar. 2014.

    Read More

  • The Withch-hunt In Modern Europe

    1702 Words  | 4 Pages

    THE WITCH-HUNT IN MODERN EUROPE By: Brian Levack The Witch-Hunt in Modern Europe by Brian Levack proved to be an interesting as well as insightful look at the intriguing world of the European practice of witchcraft and witch-hunts. The book offers a solid, reasonable interpretation of the accusation, prosecution, and execution for witchcraft in Europe between 1450 and 1750. Levack focuses mainly on the circumstances from which the witch-hunts emerged, as this report will examine. The causes of witch-hunting have been sometimes in publications portrayed differently from reality. The hunts were not prisoner escapee type hunts but rather a hunt that involved the identification of individuals who were believed to be engaged in a secret activity. Sometimes professional witch-hunters carried on the task, but judicial authorities performed most. The cause of most of these hunts is the multi-causal approach, which sees the emergence of new ideas about the witches and changes in the criminal law statutes. Both point to major religious changes and a lot of social tension among society. The intellectual foundations of the hunts were attributed to the witch’s face-to-face pact with the devil and the periodic meetings of witches to engage in practices considered to be barbaric and heinous. The cumulative concept of witchcraft pointed immediately to the devil, the source of the magic and the one most witches adored. There was strong belief then that witches made pacts with the devil. Some would barter their soul to the devil in exchange for a gift or a taste of well being.

    Read More

  • Isabella d' Este: Great Woman of the Renaissance

    2573 Words  | 6 Pages

    Robin, Diana, Anne B. Larsen, and Carole Evans, eds. Encyclopedia of Women in the Renaissance: Italy, France and England. Santa Barbara: Abc Clio, 2007.

    Read More

  • Italian Women of the Renaissance

    2232 Words  | 5 Pages

    Across Europe, between 1400 and 1650, there were women present in all major styles of time. They worked along side of great artists and were developing new techniques and styles. Women also played a very important role in the Renaissance. Although not as well documented as their male counterparts, women worked along with the other great masters, were just as innovating, and were key in developing new techniques.

    Read More

  • Lives of Women in the Renaissance

    2636 Words  | 6 Pages

    ...his time. The highest praise which could then be given to a woman was that she had the mind and the courage of men. Although they did earn some rights, women were still forbidden to hold office, paternal powers in the family, receive inheritance and many other things. The wealthy women who were fortunate enough to receive a small form of education potentially could have done much more if they were given the same opportunities that men were given. Labor class women who did everything around the house, from shearing the sheep to raising the children, were also highly depreciated. The Renaissance in Western Europe brought forward new ideas and as Renaissance is defined, ?the revival or rebirth? so was the circle of society surrounding the women. Women were given the chance to take the higher step in society, which they tried jumping on, but were often pushed back down.

    Read More

  • Did Renaissance Women truly have a Renaissance?

    1980 Words  | 4 Pages

    ...e, although the Renaissance was considered a revolutionary time period that sprung immense developments throughout Europe, this era however did not bring change to the identity and power of Renaissance women. As a result of analyzing the prejudiced regulations of female versus male sexuality, the misogynistic ideologies of society as conferred through literature and philosophy and the life of notable female Renaissance figures, it is evident that women failed to attain an era of rebirth, therefore delaying the development of female strive and liberty. The advances in the Renaissance have only served to mold the female gender even deeper into their ladylike roles; the wraths of men. Ultimately, with the fear to battle against injustice, the vision for absolute equality and strive for full feminine potential have failed to be accomplished in the shaping of our today.

    Read More

  • Francesca Caccini

    1833 Words  | 4 Pages

    “Feminism”, as defined today, is “1: the theory of the political, economic, and social equality of the sexes,” and “2: organized activity on behalf of women’s rights and interests.”2 Many critics claim that feminism has been active longer than the word itself has existed.3 The word, “feminist” was not in true use until the late 1800s and early 1900s, but activism for women’s rights was alive and well a...

    Read More

  • Salem Witch Trials

    1487 Words  | 3 Pages

    The Salem witch trials began with the accusation of people in Salem of being witches. But the concept of witchcraft started far before these trials and false accusations occurred. In the early Christian centuries, the church was relatively tolerant of magical practices. Those who were proved to have engaged in witchcraft were required only to do penance. But in the late Middle Ages (13th century to 14th century) opposition to alleged witchcraft hardened as a result of the growing belief that all magic and miracles that did not come unambiguously from God came from the Devil and were therefore manifestations of evil. Those who practiced simple sorcery, such as village wise women, were increasingly regarded as practitioners of diabolical witchcraft. They came to be viewed as individuals in league with Satan. Nearly all those who fell under suspicion of witchcraft were women, evidently regarded by witch-hunters as especially

    Read More

  • The Renaissance: The Development Of Art In The Renaissance

    1168 Words  | 3 Pages

    “Known as the Renaissance, the period immediately following the Middle Ages in Europe saw a great revival of interest in the classical learning and values of ancient Greece and Rome” (History). The word Renaissance is French for rebirth (Sachs 7). The origins can be traced back to Italy in the 14th century (History). Florence, Venice, and Rome grew into major centers in art, due to the changes that were occurring during this time (Sachs 7.) Artists across the country were exploring their newfound creativity and for new ways to express these advanced concepts (Sachs 7). The Renaissance was a time for artistic expression, especially through the eyes of Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Raphael.

    Read More

  • Renaissance Court Case Study

    1104 Words  | 3 Pages

    All throughout history, women were often held to a different set of expectations from that of their male counterparts. This is something that is seen all over the world, during various time periods and in different societies. Renaissance Florence, is no different in this social aspect, because women were expected to do and act a certain way, so that they could hold their distinct place in society. There are three areas that are really important to a woman’s sphere during the Renaissance time period: The first being, her family’s status in society, to her her ability to bare children, and finally her chastity leading up to and during her future marriage. These are all aspects of a woman’s scope that are portrayed in the court case of Giovanni

    Read More

  • Romeo Juliet Women

    818 Words  | 2 Pages

    “And therefore women, being weaker vessels, are ever thrust to the wall; therefore I will push Montague’s men from the wall and thrust his maids to the wall” are the words spoken by a Capulet servant at the beginning of the play (I.i.14-17). He illustrated right off the bat that the women characters had a completely different place in society than men did and were thought to be weaker compared to them. Although there are only three main female characters in William Shakespeare’s play Romeo and Juliet, it’s easy to interpret what the roles of women were in Verona during the Renaissance time period. Based on the female characters in Romeo and Juliet, it seems they matured more quickly than women do today, portrayed a subservient role in society, and were seen as an object to possess.

    Read More

  • The Character of Emilia in Othello

    627 Words  | 2 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • Three Waves Of Feminism

    1364 Words  | 3 Pages

    Kathleen Hanna stated: “There are just as many different kinds of feminism as there are women in the world.” This could not be truer. With different types of women, you have different types of feminism, all differing in levels of activism however enveloping around the same purpose. The most popular definition of the term feminism is “the doctrine for advocating social, political, and all other rights of women equal to those of men” (Dictionary). These would include perception of appearance and attitude, equal pay for equal work – constitutional equality, reproductive rights, ending violence against women, and more. Early thinkers, including Sappho, Hildegard of Bingen, Christine de Pisan, and more are considered the “foremothers of the modern women’s movement” (Rampton). There are three waves of feminism spanning from the late nineteenth century to present day. They encompass the first through the current attempts and successes of what women have fought for in their role in modern society. Roles of women have changed over the past 150 years in the home, the workforce and workplace, the church, and in the educational system. Despite great improvements in equality

    Read More

More about Female Perspectives: The Overlooked Women of the Renaissance

Open Document