Medieval maidens : young women and gender in England, 1270-1540 / Kim M. Phillips.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Phillips, Kim M.

Series:

Manchester medieval studies

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Young women--England--History.

Young women.

Sex role--England--History.

Sex role.

Social status--England--History.

Social status.

Social history--Medieval, 500-1500.

Social history.

Social history--Medieval.

Women--History--Middle Ages, 500-1500.

Women.

History.

England.

Physical Description:

xv, 246 pages : illustrations ; 23 cm.

Place of Publication:

Manchester ; New York : Manchester University Press ; New York : Distributed exclusively in the USA by Palgrave, 2003.

Summary:

The Medieval Landscape, as traditionally viewed through the eyes of scholars, was hardly populated by women - aside from the occasional dazzling queen or mistress, strong-willed abbess, or exotic mystic. This picture has been dramatically altered by the scholarship of the last few decades as women have been restored to the medieval scene. However, to date, young unmarried women or 'maidens' have attracted little academic attention. This book aims to fill that gap by examining the experiences and voices of young womanhood. The life-phase of adolescence was rather different for maidens than for young men, and as such merits study in its own right. At the same time a study of young womanhood provides insights into ideals of feminine gender roles and identities at different social levels. Young women were engaged in the process of acquiring the gendered selves required of adult women, but were themselves representative of a powerful ideal of femininity. This book will appeal to students interested in themes of women and gender, youth and the life-cycle, upbringing and sexuality in the medieval period.

Contents:

Medieval youth 4

Constructing femininity 9

1 Attributes 23

Bodies 24

Minds 30

Exit points 36

Perfect age 43

2 Upbringing 61

Modes of learning 62

Teachers 73

Messages 77

Varieties of conduct 83

3 Work 108

Noble service 109

Town and country 120

4 Sexualities 143

Sexual boundaries 146

Flirtation and fantasy 162

5 Voices 177

'Send more clothes' 179

'Marry me' 182

'Ave Maria' 185

Restive voices 194.

Notes:

Based on the author's doctoral thesis, expanded and rewritten.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 207-238) and index.

ISBN:

0719059631

071905964X

OCLC:

51519709