Sexuality In Joan Of Arc

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Furthermore, Joan of Arc’s appearance was overall masculine, which allowed for her identification as a male. She often wore masculine clothes, and had shaved her head (Sackville-West 9). When on trial, she suffered questioning regarding her appearance. “Who counseled you to take a man’s dress?...To this question she refused several times to answer. “In the end, she said: “With that I charge no one.” (Murray). This was a drastic appearance for someone who was biologically female, and this made a statement because outer appearance is one of the first things individuals in society take note of in order to determine gender. Thus, this portrays Joan of Arc to those around her as male. Although she was a female, this choice to have a masculine appearance
Their questions in the Ninth Private Examination became sexual in nature. “Did they smell good?” (Murray). During her trial, Joan of Arc completed questioning about two female saints: Saint Catherine and Saint Margaret. This allowed for the exposure of Joan of Arc’s transgressive sexuality, as she was having sexual relations with other women that became known as a result of this questioning. “I have embraced them both…I could not have embraced the without feeling and touching them” (Murray). Joan of Arc admits to not only having felt these women, but also having kissed them and smelt their appealing scent (Murray). This is transgressive because it pushes the boundaries of traditional heterosexuality. Although Joan of Arc may have identified as male in various aspects of her life, she was biologically a female. The admission of this touch and sexual activity towards females displays transgressive sexuality, as she is biologically a female, who identifies as a male, having sexual relations other
“Jeanne had said and published that Saint Catherine and Saint Margaret and Saint Michael have bodies - that is to say, head, eyes, face, hair, etc.; that she had touched them with her hands; that she had kissed them and embraced them” (Murray). Although Joan of Arc is biologically a female, she identifies as a male in several different aspects of her life. In her sexual engagement with Saint. Michael, she was becoming sexual with another man. This is transgressive because of these relations with a man and her prior identification as a male. Additionally, this pushes beyond traditional heterosexual relations through the engagement of pansexual behavior. Pansexuality allows for the attraction to individuals without regard for biological sex or gender expression preference (Merriam-Webster). Joan of Arc exhibits this from her sexual relations with females discussed above, and also with Saint. Michael. She had no preference for gender. This type of sexuality does not conform to traditional notions of heterosexuality, or her time period, and is therefore

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