influences + context

• evidence of role of women in positions of authority:

  • in the early Church: Paul to Romans refers to Phoebe as a "deacon and patron of many"
• many Bible passages express views that would now be regarded as sexist; similarly many philosophers expressed sexist views: Terullian, St Jerome + Augustine

  • saw the world as damned because of the sin of Adam + Eve
  • women reagrded as "the devil's gateway" (Tertullian)
• 5th century: women played a significance role in the organisation of the Church + Church authorities saw this as a threat - a number of Church councils forbade the ordination of women
• establishment of monasticism:

  • celibacy offered similar opportunities for men + women
  • convents offered the opportunity for women to escape the male-dominated life society or demands of motherhood
  • had the opportunity to study + some rose to positions of great responsibility
  • Hildegard of Bingen: became an important Abbess, wrote poetry + music; + held progressive views for her time
• following enlightenment: emphasis on reason + evidence as a way of understanding humankind + its place in the world
• 19th century time of radical change + development

  • spread of education: 1848 - colleges established to train women to teach; 1870 Education Act - universal primary education