WOMEN OF THE RENAISSANCE

Women of the Renaissance: Isabella d'Este: Patron of the Arts

Women of the Renaissance: Isabella d'Este: Patron of the Arts

Introduction

The Renaissance is the period from 1350 to 1600 in Western Europe and is a very important time period that changed the way that people in Europe viewed the world. Western society was presented with new and controversial ideas, world views, wisdom and art. However, the new ideologies that were emerging seemed only to benefit man, and excluded the majority of women from equal development. The role of women in society throughout the Renaissance was greatly affected by their social class and economic power. Although women within the upper class had increased opportunities in education during 1350 to 1600 in Western Europe, the remainder of the female population was discouraged in participating in the new liberating ideals of the Renaissance. Medieval ideas and stereotypes of women, a lack of social and cultural growth, and the increase in opportunities for men all contributed in undermining the importance of women throughout the Renaissance. Gender roles are a complicated topic in all cultures in the world. There are the people who argue the origins of gender roles, which they say lies within societal rules or preprogrammed in our genes. Of course, both society and our preprogrammed genes contribute to the gender roles of today. The majority of the public subconsciously follows these roles without thinking about it. People who don't follow these rules are cast aside from the general society. Society wants a man to be a man and a woman to be a woman, not some mixed type.

Discussion

Women were placed in very domesticated roles during the Middle Ages, and were expected to have and raise children, and to maintain their household. Most births occurred at home with the help of midwives. Many women died from having children, as the technology and knowledge of the different implications of pregnancy was very primitive. Upper and middle class babies would be baptized on the day they were born, because there was a fear that if they died before they were baptized, that they would be sent to Limbo: the place between heaven and hell. The mothers of the children, however, would not attend the baptism because the Church pronounced them impure and unclean after so obviously displaying their sexuality by giving birth to a child. The Church's rigid views on women and sexuality were very evident in their different policies.

Male and female gender roles are almost complete opposites. The concept of being a man consists of seven invisible guidelines: to never cry, to be powerful, to be aggressive, to be the leader, to not be feminine, to be able to do everything yourself, and to not complain. Violence would be the masculine way of reaching these goals. The ideal, perfect women need to be the following: skinny, sexy, smell good, not be masculine, passive, show emotions, and be as if they were weak or frail. The media influences us to think that if we do ...