Gender roles during the middle ages by Gayathri Yadlapalli

Gender Roles have consistently evolved over time, especially female roles. Women that were once alive to only bear children and follow family values, are now breaking the glass ceiling and fighting for justice. Gladly times have changed, unfortunately, women during the middle ages did not have the same freedom, in fact, some argue that the expected roles for women in Europe during that time was the worst era. During the Medieval times, customs and values were solely based on their interpretation of the Bible. According to Chadwicks novel, Women, Art, and Society, “Christian representation was focused on the opposition of Eve and Mary, seducer and saint”(pg 44). During the Middle Ages, women were economically dependent on males. However, Upper-class women had more in common with males than lower-class people. During the 13th century, there was rapid growth in commerce which allowed females to manage large estates while the men were out to war (Chadwick, 47). The freedom that the females had, impacted on the little exposure of female artists during that time.  

Although there is still a long way to go, there has been a sizeable difference from the middle ages till now. Many arts from the Renaissance period only show women that were considered pretty, came from a good social class. The only paintings that tried to defy the norms and show otherwise were by women artists like Marie-Denise Villers, Edmonia Lewis, Christine de Pisan and so on. Many women artists, that were just as good as men were not given an opportunity to display their artworks to the public, either because of their subjects, or simply because they were women. Gender roles that were acceptable to the society always had men as the figures of authority, and women under them. A woman's fate was basically in the hands of a man. During the Middle Ages, women were economically dependent on males. However, Upper-class women had more in common with males than lower-class people.

Women from the Renaissance period often painted based off of their real-life experiences and encounters. For example, Artemisia Gentileschi, the artist of Susanna and the Elders, expresses her own experiences through her work. In one of her paintings, a women bathing is being harassed by two men, while the women are trying to resist them and feeling helpless.  which is the perfect illustration of how women, in general, were treated back them. They were only valued for their bodies, and not their brains or any of the talents that they possessed.

This is picture called Susana and the Elders by Artemisia Gentileschi

Interestingly enough, since women were not allowed to contribute in philosophical and scholarly activities, they were forced to turn to “vivid imagery” that were extremely influential to many (Chadwick, pg 58). This alone can provide enough evidence of how women were forced into learning through art and improving their skills instead of going to school for example. The goal of many Christian men was to belittle women by taking away their education. However, in some matter, it was an advantage for women to improve on their vivid imagery.    

Nameless and Friendless, 1857, by Emily Osborne

In this photo, it reveals how women were hidden and put to shame. As you can see, the women in the photo are wearing dark colors and covering her hair. This explains how a widowed dressed during the 1800’s. Also, men watching her with disgusted shows the treatment women had in the social status. The women in the photo are clearly trying to sell her artwork in order to make a living since she is a widower and during the time women were forced to depend on men for money. Clearly, the man looking at the photo is unimpressed by her work only because of her gender. This reveals the hatred of women improving their skills. Emily Osborn wanted to reveal the truth of even though skilled women were disliked by men, they did not give up and kept moving forward and thankfully they have greatly impacted the future for all women today.

Portia Wounding her Thigh, Elisabetta Sirani in 1664 was another great painting that represents women power.

Works Cited:

Chadwick, Whitney, and Whitney Chadwick. Women, Art, and Society (Fifth Edition) (World of Art) 5th Edition . London: Thames and Hudson, 2007.

Guerrilla Girls (Group of artists). The Guerrilla Girls' bedside companion to the history of Western art. Penguin Group USA, 1998.