Forgetful of their sex
Subtitle: female sanctity and society, ca. 500-1100
By: Jane Tibbetts Schulenburg.
Publisher: University of Chicago Press
Published: 1998
Place of publication: Chicago
Language: eng
Number of pages: 587
Subjects: Women in Christianity -- History -- Early church, ca. 30-600; Women in Christianity -- History -- Middle Ages, 600-1500; Sex -- Religious aspects -- Christianity; Celibacy -- Religious aspects -- Christianity; Virginity -- Religious aspects -- Christianity
Description: In this study of over 2,200 female and male saints, Jane Schulenburg explores women's status and experience in early medieval society and the Church. She focuses on the changing social contexts of female sanctity (women saints as embodiments of cultural models) as well as various kinds of extravagant, "transgressive," or "deviant" female behavior that frequently challenged male order and authority.

She argues that between 500 and 1100 a clear gender-based asymmetry existed in the selection of saints, which became more exaggerated during certain eras. Schulenburg also examines some of the major contributing factors involved in establishing reputations of sanctity and the recruitment and promotion of saints, including family wealth and power, patronage, monasticism, virginity, motherhood, and longevity.

Invaluable for what they tell us about early medieval society and the Church, the Lives of these early saints also afford rare insight into the private world of medieval men and women, the special bonds of family and friendship, and the collective mentalities of the period. This book constitutes a major contribution to the study of medieval history, gender, and religion.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (p. 535-562) and index.