When analyzing the various views regarding the role of women in European society between 1400 and 1660, they all had conflicting opinions on whether or not women are capable of developing and sustaining authority over the public. Three groups of people that had conflicting thoughts on this topic included religious leaders, such as John Calvin and John Knox, educated women, such as Arcangela Tarabotti and Artemisia Gentileschi, and humanists, such as Laura Cereta and Baldassare Castiglione. Most religious leaders viewed women with an inferior perspective, most educated women viewed women with a superior perspective, and most humanists and those publicly successful viewed women with a potentially equal perspective.
Religious leaders such as …show more content…
Arcangela Tarabotti, a catholic nun, stated “If i were not a female, I would deduce from this that the woman, both because of her composition and because of the place in which she was created, is nobler, gentler, stronger, and worthier than the man(Document 10)” which clearly disposes her opinion of the female gender in society as being superior to that of the male gender. This quote also references the creation of woman in the bible; it is said that Eden spawned from Adam's rib bone in the genesis. Due to Arcangela Tarabotti position as a nun in the catholic church, it would have been mandatory for Arcangela Tarabotti to read and seek in depth information from the bible. Artemisia Gentileschi clearly demonstrates the idea of female superiority in her painting Judith beheading Holofernes(Document 12). This painting depicts two women decapitating a man on a bed and portrays an idea of the power women have to do what is thought of to be a man’s deed(Document 12). Painting this it would be probable to think that Artemisia Gentileschi thought of king Louis XIV of france for the infamy he acquired in history for beheading during his reign and her own hatred towards males transpired from a past …show more content…
Humanists, such as Laura Cereta and Baldassare Castiglione, had their opinions lay in of the middle ground between feminine superiority and inferiority; they believed that women had the ability to take authoritative action but lacked the knowledge and resources needed to conduct such tasks. Italian writer Laura Cereta stated “women have been able by nature to be exceptional, but have chosen lesser goals(Document 3).” Laura Cereta probably thought of this as being true due to the majority of society being ruled by sexist men and had very few women. Baldassare Castiglione suggests that a woman’s beauty subconsciously force those with authoritative roles in politics to follow her decisions by stating “a Lady who lives at court a certain pleasing affability is becoming above all else where by she will be able to entertain graciously every kind of man with agreeable and comely conversating suited to the time and place(Document 4).” This statement affirms Baldassare Castiglione’s position of believing women have the ability to rule, however, his feelings of supreme superiority are dismissed by saying her beauty controls opinions rather than her
Religious leaders such as …show more content…
Arcangela Tarabotti, a catholic nun, stated “If i were not a female, I would deduce from this that the woman, both because of her composition and because of the place in which she was created, is nobler, gentler, stronger, and worthier than the man(Document 10)” which clearly disposes her opinion of the female gender in society as being superior to that of the male gender. This quote also references the creation of woman in the bible; it is said that Eden spawned from Adam's rib bone in the genesis. Due to Arcangela Tarabotti position as a nun in the catholic church, it would have been mandatory for Arcangela Tarabotti to read and seek in depth information from the bible. Artemisia Gentileschi clearly demonstrates the idea of female superiority in her painting Judith beheading Holofernes(Document 12). This painting depicts two women decapitating a man on a bed and portrays an idea of the power women have to do what is thought of to be a man’s deed(Document 12). Painting this it would be probable to think that Artemisia Gentileschi thought of king Louis XIV of france for the infamy he acquired in history for beheading during his reign and her own hatred towards males transpired from a past …show more content…
Humanists, such as Laura Cereta and Baldassare Castiglione, had their opinions lay in of the middle ground between feminine superiority and inferiority; they believed that women had the ability to take authoritative action but lacked the knowledge and resources needed to conduct such tasks. Italian writer Laura Cereta stated “women have been able by nature to be exceptional, but have chosen lesser goals(Document 3).” Laura Cereta probably thought of this as being true due to the majority of society being ruled by sexist men and had very few women. Baldassare Castiglione suggests that a woman’s beauty subconsciously force those with authoritative roles in politics to follow her decisions by stating “a Lady who lives at court a certain pleasing affability is becoming above all else where by she will be able to entertain graciously every kind of man with agreeable and comely conversating suited to the time and place(Document 4).” This statement affirms Baldassare Castiglione’s position of believing women have the ability to rule, however, his feelings of supreme superiority are dismissed by saying her beauty controls opinions rather than her