Gender and the public sphere in early modern period
- Created by: Alasdair
- Created on: 22-05-18 15:12
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- Gender and the public sphere in early modern period (according to Bernard Capp)
- In most places, women were excluded form political world
- At very highest level, gender and dynastic principles sometimes collided, as in France, where Salic law forbade a woman to inherit the throne
- By contrast Isabella of Castile and Elizabeth Tudor ruled successfully
- Though Henry VIII had feared that only son would be able to preserve his dynasty
- Later female royal successes
- Maria Theresa in Austria
- Catherine the Great in Russia
- Several female heads of small German territories
- Nowhere any examples of female monarchs lead to any wider reappraisal
- Ministers, officials, diplomats were always male and so were urban magistrates
- In practice, some aristocratic women were able to play very active roles in bloody-thirsty politics of late sixteenth century France
- e.g. members of the Guise family
- Women often occupied significant position at royal and princely courts, wielding informal power through personal influence they might have with a king, a minister or favourite
- Contemporaries recognised wife of landowner, local magistrate or parish officer might be more forceful than her husband
- Winning her support could offer their best chance of securing a favourable decision
- Amongst the poor
- Women quite often became involved in popular politics of a very different kind
- in riots and demonstrations where gender could play to their advantage
- According to Houlbrooke and Capp
- Women protesting over grain supplies or enclosures were less likely to face retribution
- magistrates recognised female rebellion was unthinkable and might therefore feel more able to make concessions without losing face
- Women protesting over grain supplies or enclosures were less likely to face retribution
- According to Houlbrooke and Capp
- in riots and demonstrations where gender could play to their advantage
- At neighbourhood level
- Women played important role in shaping local public opinion
- often through their 'gossip networks'
- Public opinion was a weapon of some significance, for retaining a 'good name' mattered to both men and women
- By ostracising, mocking or rebuking troublesome neighbours or violent, unfaithful husbands, women might shame offenders into mending their ways, and if that failed, their pressure might trigger intervention by parish officers
- They might rally to support a respected woman who had come under threat
- E.g. Margaret Graeme, a Norfolk villager accused of witchcraft in 1590, was defended by several respectable female neighbours who had known her for over twenty years and testified to her good character
- According to Capp
- Proceedings against her went no further
- According to Capp
- E.g. Margaret Graeme, a Norfolk villager accused of witchcraft in 1590, was defended by several respectable female neighbours who had known her for over twenty years and testified to her good character
- Women played important role in shaping local public opinion
- Women quite often became involved in popular politics of a very different kind
- Gender equally reflected in judicial system
- Judges, lawyers and juries were male
- Law regarded husband and wife as one person, the man
- That generally gave him control over money and goods his wife brought to marriage and any money she might earn
- Male control over land wife brought remained more limited
- Husband liable for any debts his wife might incur
- If husband and wife committed crime together, the court would usually hold husband solely responsible
- Generally, most crimes committed by men, but some exceptions
- witchcraft usually associated with women in most parts of Europe
- Double standard meant that women found guilty of adultery or premarital sex were usually punished more severely than men involved
- Unmarried mothers suspected of infanticide were assumed to be guilty unless they could prove their innocence
- Faced almost certain execution until attitudes softened in C18th
- In most places, women were excluded form political world
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