How Did Christine De Pisan Influence Society

Improved Essays
Christine de Pisan was unusual for a fourteenth-century woman in many ways, not only was she a forerunner of the feminist movement, but she was also a prolific writer. She had a significant impact on medieval society, Christine was a breakthrough for women’s rights and challenged male writers who wrote that woman were not smart and were just an object to be used by men. Christine de Pisan wrote many forms of writing, from ballads to books about women’s position in society. She also had a large influence on societies minds especially women as she empowered them to fight for their rights.
Christine de Pisan produced many different types of writings throughout her thirty-year career. When Christine was young she found herself surrounded by books and educated herself. After her husband died of the bubonic disease, Christine was left to support her mother, her three children, and a niece.
…show more content…
She influenced three royal dukes who asked her to write for them, Christine helped her wealthy customers express their feelings through her writing. Christine de Pisan wished for a society like today, where women can be educated and respected. Whilst some of society today is still not over sexism it is because of women like Christine that women have the same rights men do. She empowered women and continue to, during the medieval times she influenced society minds. Christine presented the true nature females and their place in society, as men did not see them as important as males. During the late middle ages in Europe, few women had any control over the direction their lives took. The principal routes open to them were marriage or admission to a religious community. Most marriages were arranged and were placed while they were still in their teens. After which the wives in medieval times became the property of their

Related Documents

  • Superior Essays

    Although her ideals stray from current feminist archetypes, Christine de Pizan is the quintessential protofeminist whose compelling writings sparked the discussion of feminism and set the standard for feminist rhetoric. Most notably, Christine de Pizan’s The Book of the City of Ladies acts in…

    • 1414 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Superior Essays

    The majority of women had very few options. Women could not go to universities – their only ability to get an education was from private tutors, like how Abelard taught Heloise (p.8). Even if a woman became educated, there was little that they could do, however, as they were not allowed to join guilds and could not easily own their own property or find jobs. Most women were limited to marrying a man – and living with them until they die (as divorce was very difficult and commonly illegal) or to seclude themselves in a nunnery. The seclusion and oppression of women in medieval society is very clear.…

    • 1394 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Decent Essays

    When I think of Christine de Pisan, I think of notable writers such as Maya Angelou, Phillis Wheatley, and Alice Walker. Christine wrote about women and Maya wrote, “Phenomenal Woman”. Christine was known as a poet, feminist and Women’s Rights activist and Maya Angelou was also a famous poet, feminist and Civil Rights activist. Maya and Christine are similar and can be compared in many…

    • 66 Words
    • 1 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Most of them would have to be single in order to pursue the career and education they wanted. If women during this time period wanted to get married to a male, she would basically have to hand over everything she owned to the male and would basically become his property. Many women got around this dilemma by living with another female. Although they were still women, society at the time did not think of women getting married as being a thing, therefore none of these rules applied to them when they got married or lived together. Later on, many more women started working in the workforce, adding more income to their households.…

    • 1058 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Decent Essays

    For example, in the 17th century, only twelve works were published by women. In literature were five works, one work was about a saints' lives and the rest of works were the mother's advice books, translation and prophecy. In our research we will talk about the role of women throughout…

    • 163 Words
    • 1 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Decent Essays

    Isabella d’Este an influential art patron, women ruler, and contributor to women’s rights in the Renaissance that gave women a person to look up to.…

    • 681 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Despite being treated unfairly, women were sometimes admired for their work and personality. Although, medieval time was seen as a world of men, women's roles in society were an essential part in European…

    • 753 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Decent Essays

    During the crusades, most men and boys old enough were fighting in the holy wars. This caused quite a dilemma, in a woman’s home life, she became the man of the house. She became able to make legal transactions and even collected dues that her husband left in his wake. For the family, she was no longer just the caretaker of the children, but also the overseer of the farmland. Men were no longer around to provide for their families to women started developing into shoemakers, bakers, armorers, and even barbers.…

    • 519 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Improved Essays

    She notices that women are the back bone to society and if they are treated wrongly the society becomes weak. By stating this she is still linking all her writings together and keeping what now days is called a feminist perspective. Christine took great risks with her writing because she was female with differing ideas to the popular culture of the time. She wrote about things that even today are…

    • 448 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    The writings of Marie de France go against the gender roles of women from the majority of works written during the same time period. Her story Lanval shows this quite clearly. Lanval is a young knight who has been forgotten by his peers. He feels “depressed and worried” because he is “without friends” and “doesn’t know where to look for help” (297). He goes out for a ride and is approached by 2 lovely girls who bring him to their “lady” (298).…

    • 1357 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Women also had the right to choose their spouses, which was considered a radical privilege during this time. This eliminated arranged marriages and allowed their affection to become visible instead of what it previously was seen as being less integrated in emotion and more focused on the financial standpoints of one another. This was a trending idea during this time, but as this right became available to women, there were expectations to follow. Once they swore into their marriage, they must be dedicated to their husbands and children. Just as men had the right of education, they did not have to pursue their studies, but if women refused their duties as a wife and mother they were looked down upon because it was seen as one of their privileges.…

    • 1294 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Decent Essays

    During the Protestant Reformation in the 16th century, the status of women changed drastically. Women went from being witches and seducers, to being seen as a significant role in the household: the wife. Instead of marriage being pure evil, it was actually seen as the right thing to do. Marriage was now the norm, and was seen as a way to further please God. Although still perceived as being weak, women were given more respect by the people during this time.…

    • 311 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Great Essays

    It is the women like Theodora and Mathilda who used their power to benefit others, Isabella who proved that women could also be vindictive and malevolent, and Eleanor and Aethelflaed who used their wit and intelligence to become effective leaders, who defined a new standard for women around the world, and inspiring future generations to push themselves to new limits, stand up for what they believe in and soar to new heights. These women fulfilled their required roles to an extent that critics and doubters would not have been able to fathom prior to their reign. The role that was asked of them was perhaps daunting at times, but they did not cower behind the fear of new territory, but instead rose to the…

    • 2046 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Christine De Pizan

    • 1371 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Christine De Pizan literary defense of Woman’s character. Christine De Pizan lived in the period 1364 to 1431. She was a medieval feminist author whom created a platform for the recognition of other virtuous and intellectual women. A feminist is a believer of equal rights, justice and recognition for women and that is exactly the stance that Christine De Pizan took through her literature. During her time women were not recognized much beyond their reproductive role and was often brought across as promiscuous and through other devaluing means.…

    • 1371 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Marie de France was not just any women, but she was someone who seem to oppose the oppression of men. She wouldn’t allow men to try to take credit for her work, so she would put her name on all of her work. In addition, she also wanted to receive the recognition she deserved. Knowing this of her,…

    • 781 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays