Identifying current realities
A good place to start
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Hello, lovely reader!
I wanted to take a moment and create a landing space for those that are new. Please know you are very welcome here.
When the 15th Century Feminist was created, I was unaware of the depth of community this platform offered behind the essays. I was seeking ways to share the rolodex of medieval women’s stories that I had inadvertently been collecting while researching, finding myself in need of a space—preferably one outside of my own mind—to witness the many patriarchy-confronting women of the Middle Ages. A space to find catharsis, to document, to preserve. And then, lovely reader, you found me. And for that, I am so very thankful.
Below you will find quick links to my most platform-informing pieces as well as what you can expect from this space. There is also a quick introductory video, as I wanted to be more than a disembodied voice coming to you from the voice-overs—but if that’s not for you, the transcript is provided below.
When I say you are welcome here, I mean it. Growing our paradigms together, in community, allows us to strive towards collective liberation with mutual understanding and shared language. And what an honor it is to do that alongside you. Thank you. 💜
Why am I here?
What you can expect here
An expansive introduction to women written out of the Middle Ages
A continual investigation into how medieval misogyny informs modern masculinity
An abolitionist feminist mindset fueled by trauma informed paradigms
Confronting the inherent bias of histories produced within white supremacist capitalistic patriarchy
A space for accountability and community
A human doing their absolute best to get by in this capitalistic hellscape
What you won’t find here
An accommodation to anyone denying folks their humanity
Upholding patriarchal gender roles and expressions
My Mission
To reimagine the women that were intentionally erased, minimized, and/or villainized throughout the Middle Ages. To challenge patriarchal histories that only serve to uphold white supremacist capitalistic patriarchy. To acknowledge the endless harm all humans endure under patriarchy. To grow, continually.
Shall we do this together? 💜
Medieval Feminisms
Anti-Patriarchy Frameworks
Let us connect in the comments!
Who is your favorite historical woman from your own country or community?
Is there a specific woman from history you think is overlooked or underappreciated?
Are there any specific historical women whose life stories you would like to see turned into a book or film?
Has studying historical women influenced any of your own personal values or goals?
Not any specific historial woman, but as someone from Louisiana, I'd be super interested in a human portrayal of the history of Voodoo queens in New Orleans! Voodoo is so often misrepresented and villified. I know there are some interesting anthropological works about Voodoo priestesses (Mama Lola is one I've often seen pretty often being sold in Voodoo shops in New Orleans), but I'd love to see a historical fiction type movie or novel that delves into the topic with attention, care, and authenticity. If anyone reading this knows of such a book, I'm all ears! Also in general, just interested in witches and any kind of magic-esque history of women and the idea that these types of women are villified because their feminitiy is seen as a real threat. Feminity as a powerful force is just so cool!
I’m so excited to have found you here, unwrapping 15th century women - my postgrad research led me back from Wollstonecraft to Aphra Behn, Mary Wortley Montagu and a raft of women writing at a time when printing presses were everywhere, but also the culture of letter writing was flourishing, especially in Britain and France. I’m intrigued to read more about how women so much earlier than all this have expression in writing - and who, if anyone, read it?