Pope Joan Donna Woolfolk Cross Essay

Throughout history, many women have broken free of the ever-existent patriarchy to be remembered for centuries, a few such as Queen Victoria, Amelia Earhart, and Marie Curie. While others are legends in folklore, such as Joan of Ark and Mulan. Pope Joan by Donna Woolfolk Cross, is the story of the life of Joan a young girl who craves knowledge and has a strong desire to learn. As she grew up she constantly had to validate her intelligence to men in authoritative positions, in order to obtain an education. Once she was able to go to school, she exceled above all the other boys in the class, but nevertheless she was continually bullied for being a girl. When Norse men invaded her town, leaving her friends kidnapped and her brother dead, she then ran away and took on her brother’s identity [John …show more content…
Evidently females at that time were being treated like property. As a result women were striped of basic human rights, and freedoms that they deserve. Hence, women that lived in the Middle Ages were almost always married off, especially if they were form a wealthy family; as it was important for them to have a male heir to continue their family legacy. In addition 20% of these women died from childbirth often at a young age, as a result, “living as a women during that time, meant they were usually better off as a widow as they gain many benefits such as becoming the head of the household, getting the rights to property, as well as become more desirable to new suitors” (Langley). Therefore, women living in the Middle Ages did not have freedom to choose their own spouse, and were almost always better of as widows than to be married. As that was one of the only ways they would be able to inherit land, as well a position of power in the household. Likewise, Joan is forced into an undesired marriage, for the benefit of someone else. When she was able to go to the schola by staying with Count Gerold’s family, Gerold’s wife created an arranged marriage for