The Medieval Ages were an influential period between the 5th and 15th centuries which reflected mankind’s true essence. They conjure images of castles, heroic knights, helpless damsels, and a society built upon a distinctive social class system flourishing with innovation. Needless to say, this prominent conception of the Medieval Ages represents the contrary of relations with the social injustices of modern European society. This Modern European society has found its roots of corruption in the Medieval Ages, which have formed a concrete foundation through the rigid social hierarchy and the negative portrayal of those different from the powerful man, once a venerable aspect of society. William Stearns Davis, a PhD graduate from Harvard University
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The prominence of patriarchy and subservience of women has been repeated in literature numerous times and the vision that women are evil and sinful has also been the basis in the Medieval Ages. Concepts of male superiority from classical literature were incorporated into daily life, depicting the masculinity of a male based essentially on male dominance and vigor. It is especially difficult to attain social justice when Darwin, the most renowned scientist in the fields of the theory of evolution in the nineteenth century, came forth with his conclusion that men were the more developed part of the humankind (Weitz, 2003). Ideas from the Medieval Ages have molded European society to have a certain perspective on how women should act, dress, and work. According to O’Pry-Reynolds, Anita Kay, a Graduate Student in the Humanities from Arcadia University, “Women were viewed as daughters of the Eve’s sin”. These ideas surrounding masculinity and were inherited from classical literature and the Bible. In Medieval Europe, they were responsible for the temptation of men, and the feudal society placed more emphasis on the power and ability of men rather than women. In anycase, women were characterized to be amenable and submissive to authoritative man. This is still eminent, as it socially affects both men and women of the modern European society, who feel that women are still defeated by gender inequality, as much as the great role they play in life. According to Alice Radzyner, a graduate from London School of Economics and Political Science, “Although 40% of his advisors are women, the EU President himself, Herman van Rompuy, has said that regrettably, gender inequality still dominates the European Council” This hinders a woman’s drive for an education and by impeding such assumptions as those from literature, she is devalued and her goals will not be
The prominence of patriarchy and subservience of women has been repeated in literature numerous times and the vision that women are evil and sinful has also been the basis in the Medieval Ages. Concepts of male superiority from classical literature were incorporated into daily life, depicting the masculinity of a male based essentially on male dominance and vigor. It is especially difficult to attain social justice when Darwin, the most renowned scientist in the fields of the theory of evolution in the nineteenth century, came forth with his conclusion that men were the more developed part of the humankind (Weitz, 2003). Ideas from the Medieval Ages have molded European society to have a certain perspective on how women should act, dress, and work. According to O’Pry-Reynolds, Anita Kay, a Graduate Student in the Humanities from Arcadia University, “Women were viewed as daughters of the Eve’s sin”. These ideas surrounding masculinity and were inherited from classical literature and the Bible. In Medieval Europe, they were responsible for the temptation of men, and the feudal society placed more emphasis on the power and ability of men rather than women. In anycase, women were characterized to be amenable and submissive to authoritative man. This is still eminent, as it socially affects both men and women of the modern European society, who feel that women are still defeated by gender inequality, as much as the great role they play in life. According to Alice Radzyner, a graduate from London School of Economics and Political Science, “Although 40% of his advisors are women, the EU President himself, Herman van Rompuy, has said that regrettably, gender inequality still dominates the European Council” This hinders a woman’s drive for an education and by impeding such assumptions as those from literature, she is devalued and her goals will not be