Contrary to the prevailing ideas on women’s lives and roles during the Middle Ages, scholarship over the past few decades has rediscovered numerous female characters who were quite capable of and committed to making their voices heard and who participated in the public discourse, whether in politics, the arts, literature, religion, or music. Christine de Pizan is one of these writers, and could even be identified as a medieval “feminist”, considering her outstanding public defense of women against age-old misogyny. Although it would be difficult to find any other female figure in the entire Middle Ages who was as energetic, sophisticated, and outspoken as Christine de Pizan, her case indicates that medieval women had many more opportunities and privileges than the commonly held and…
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Citation: Classen, Albrecht. "Christine de Pizan". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 25 January 2006 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=871, accessed 23 November 2024.]
