Between Pit and Pedestal, Women in the Middle Ages

Description

Introduction.ix Pits and Pedestals Chapter One Written With Your Own Hand Medieval Writers on Women's Nature and Roles.3 Everyday Life Chapter Two Be It Ever So Humble Women at Home—Household Management, Houses, Food,Clothing.15 Chapter Three From A Crooked Rib Women as Patients and Medical Practitioners.33 Chapter Four The Butcher, The Baker, The Candlestick Maker Working Women in Medieval Cities.51 Personal Life Chapter Five "Like A Dog To His Master" Personal Relationships in Theory andPractice.67 Chapter Six Never On Sunday Sexual Mores and Behavior .85 Spiritual Life Chapter Seven Naked Statues and Holy Bones Woman's Place in the Medieval Church.103 Chapter Eight Floating To The Rafters Lifestyles of Saints and Religious Women.117 Chapter Nine If Ignorance Were A Woman's Passport To Paradise Women in Heretical Sects.133 Chapter Ten Abracadabra Superstitions and "Witchcraft" .143 Secular Life Chapter Eleven Whipped With A Handful Of Flax Women in Various Legal Systems.157 Chapter Twelve Displayed No Womanly Cowardice Female Landholders and Politicians.171 Chapter Thirteen Never Better Ruled By Any Man Women as Consorts, Regents, and Rulers .183 Cultural Life Chapter Fourteen Eat, Drink, And Be Merry Amusements, Entertainments, and Ceremonies 199 Chapter Fifteen "The Working Of A Woman's Wit" Women's Roles in Learning and Literacy.213 Chapter Sixteen That Which Talent Confers Women in Literature andArt.223 Epilogue.235 Appendix I Class Structure.237 Appendix II Money.239 Appendix III Life Expectancy for Women .241 Glossary.243 Notes and Citations .247 Selected Bibliography .267 Index.295