Markyate

Christina of Markyate experiences denial of autonomy throughout her life specifically by her mother, Beatrix. She does not…

Let Her Voice Be Heard: Patriarchal Control, and Traditional Gender Roles in “Christina of Markyate” and “Hildegard of Bingen” written by Anonymous Authors The Bible states, “Let a woman learn quietly with all submissiveness. I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet” (Timothy 2:11-12). Such courageous acts including, voicing one’s opinion, sharing beliefs, and expressing knowledge are just a few examples of what women could not do…

Christianity requires its followers to submit their lives to the will of God. So why would women of the twelfth century willingly choose to leave their patriarchal homes, where the expectation was to be submissive, only to be submissive to a ‘higher power’? The early church did not view women’s bodies as objects with traditional gender-defined purposes, but as instruments to carry forth the word of God. Christianity still objectified women, however, Christianity also gave agency equal to that of…

was married. When Christina heard the news she fled from the cell and her town to see Roger. Beohtred and her parents sent out search parties and went out themselves to find her, but they could not. Two years had passed and Beohtred finally found out she was living with Roger. He went to see them with his two brothers to finally end their marriage. Many years later, Roger died and Christina went to go live as a hermit not far outside of St. Albans. God then sent her a vision of Abbot Geoffrey.…