This is fantastic. Seeing Georges Duby’s name in print brought me all the way back to my graduate school days - I can’t help but feel that Duby is like the Mother Goose of medieval studies. Late 19th and early to mid 20th century scholarship shaped so much of how we understand history, right? We owe them so much *and yet* it is difficult, but imperative, to get out of that framework which is, itself, so limiting. Thank you Kate and Holly for this post. And I love the zine!
You are exactly right! We owe them so much - but the harm perpetuated
through the narratives can not be ignored or understated any longer. It is amazing how many view the Middle Ages through Duby’s paradigms. I had to laugh going back to read some of his pieces from my own college textbooks — 19/20 year old me had so many feelings about his words but could articulate none of them! Glad to have the ability to do so now. It was cathartic in a way.
I had such fun making this, thank you for spending your precious time with it, Leah! 💜
Thank you for continuing to challenge our societal beliefs and doing so through your research. As I go through the archives of my family in the Kingdom of Naples from the 1480s onward, I noticed that in legal documents women kept their names even after marriage and often kept their properties (if not forced into convents) and they had equal right to inheritances. And as I go through travel notes andthe long absences from the men while work is going on their lands, I realize that the women managed those family properties, becoming experts in agriculture and the business of agriculture, while raising the kids. The older women in the family I remember from when I was a child were totally bad ass, feared, and respected. They seemed to have knowledge about so many things. They were the descendants of the bad ass women of centuries past. Anyway, as I carry on too long, yes, archives can help us reframe what we think today of gender roles in the past. Keep up the great work.
Roberto, what a gift of a note this is! I'm so grateful for the thoughtful time spent with my words -- and so thankful to learn more of your family history! That is so interesting re: the inheritances and the family names! So much thought is dedicated to the patrilineal nature of the medieval world but there were so many moments that defied that strict maneuvering of goods/riches/lands etc. Your comment makes me think of the LoPrete quote within the 'zine section--so much of the domestic realm included what we would now consider the political/public one. Thank you so much for sharing, and thank you for the time spent!! 💜
Your paper reminded me that in my student days I wrote a paper about Matilda from Canossa who supported the papacy of Gregory VII ( if I remember correctly). While I was re-reading the paper I realized that Matilda should be remembered today as a feminist icon. If anyone is interested, the paper is on Academia.edu.
I’ve written (only minimally) about Matilda of Canossa! What an influential woman she was, oh my goodness! I’m honored that my words stirred thoughts of such a powerful person. Your essay sounds so interesting!
Thank you for spending such thoughtful time with my words and these women! 💜
Absolutely mind-blowing, every time! Which of course it shouldn't be, but the fact that it is just goes to show how vital your work is. Thank you for continuing this labor and introducing me, at least, to legions (ha) of women I might never have heard of!
Thank YOU for always spending such thoughtful time with my words and taking a moment to honor the effort, I am so grateful for you, Antonia! I understand the feeling! Each time I’m confronted with a new, obviously powerful, woman in the archives, I’m blown away by how little is preserved of her story—yet I should know better by now! It’s hard to confront the truths we hold in our bones and the minimization which has historically occurred. Thank you again for the time spent 💜
You are a living, breathing, writing example of one of the comments I came out of a Reframing the Commons conference with a couple years ago: "How we got here is how we get out of here." I'm so grateful for your work!
Antonia, what a gift this is! Thank you for say this. This is exactly why I write — to identify the how. We can know why we need to overcome patriarchy, but if we don’t understand the ‘how,’ I fear we’ll continue in the same devastating loop.
Sheila! Thank you for spending your time with these women, I so appreciate the support and time spent to send a quick kind note out into the world—it is received with deep appreciation.💜
Thank you for always uplifting and taking a moment to send a kind note, CG! I so appreciate you! I had such fun curating those images—there are some really cool manuscript illustrations out there. Hard not to share absolutely everything. Appreciate you!!
This is fantastic. Seeing Georges Duby’s name in print brought me all the way back to my graduate school days - I can’t help but feel that Duby is like the Mother Goose of medieval studies. Late 19th and early to mid 20th century scholarship shaped so much of how we understand history, right? We owe them so much *and yet* it is difficult, but imperative, to get out of that framework which is, itself, so limiting. Thank you Kate and Holly for this post. And I love the zine!
You are exactly right! We owe them so much - but the harm perpetuated
through the narratives can not be ignored or understated any longer. It is amazing how many view the Middle Ages through Duby’s paradigms. I had to laugh going back to read some of his pieces from my own college textbooks — 19/20 year old me had so many feelings about his words but could articulate none of them! Glad to have the ability to do so now. It was cathartic in a way.
I had such fun making this, thank you for spending your precious time with it, Leah! 💜
Thank you for continuing to challenge our societal beliefs and doing so through your research. As I go through the archives of my family in the Kingdom of Naples from the 1480s onward, I noticed that in legal documents women kept their names even after marriage and often kept their properties (if not forced into convents) and they had equal right to inheritances. And as I go through travel notes andthe long absences from the men while work is going on their lands, I realize that the women managed those family properties, becoming experts in agriculture and the business of agriculture, while raising the kids. The older women in the family I remember from when I was a child were totally bad ass, feared, and respected. They seemed to have knowledge about so many things. They were the descendants of the bad ass women of centuries past. Anyway, as I carry on too long, yes, archives can help us reframe what we think today of gender roles in the past. Keep up the great work.
Roberto, what a gift of a note this is! I'm so grateful for the thoughtful time spent with my words -- and so thankful to learn more of your family history! That is so interesting re: the inheritances and the family names! So much thought is dedicated to the patrilineal nature of the medieval world but there were so many moments that defied that strict maneuvering of goods/riches/lands etc. Your comment makes me think of the LoPrete quote within the 'zine section--so much of the domestic realm included what we would now consider the political/public one. Thank you so much for sharing, and thank you for the time spent!! 💜
Your paper reminded me that in my student days I wrote a paper about Matilda from Canossa who supported the papacy of Gregory VII ( if I remember correctly). While I was re-reading the paper I realized that Matilda should be remembered today as a feminist icon. If anyone is interested, the paper is on Academia.edu.
I’ve written (only minimally) about Matilda of Canossa! What an influential woman she was, oh my goodness! I’m honored that my words stirred thoughts of such a powerful person. Your essay sounds so interesting!
Thank you for spending such thoughtful time with my words and these women! 💜
Love this post and especially Holly's introduction of the archaelogical evidence as an indicator of a culture where women were allowed to bear arms.
Thank you for spending your precious time with our words! Isn’t Holly just incredible? I was thrilled to share her words here. 💜
You are both awesome! 👏🏼 spending the time here is well worth it
Thank you Joanna; as always, it’s such a joy to have your support 😍
Absolutely mind-blowing, every time! Which of course it shouldn't be, but the fact that it is just goes to show how vital your work is. Thank you for continuing this labor and introducing me, at least, to legions (ha) of women I might never have heard of!
Thank YOU for always spending such thoughtful time with my words and taking a moment to honor the effort, I am so grateful for you, Antonia! I understand the feeling! Each time I’m confronted with a new, obviously powerful, woman in the archives, I’m blown away by how little is preserved of her story—yet I should know better by now! It’s hard to confront the truths we hold in our bones and the minimization which has historically occurred. Thank you again for the time spent 💜
You are a living, breathing, writing example of one of the comments I came out of a Reframing the Commons conference with a couple years ago: "How we got here is how we get out of here." I'm so grateful for your work!
Antonia, what a gift this is! Thank you for say this. This is exactly why I write — to identify the how. We can know why we need to overcome patriarchy, but if we don’t understand the ‘how,’ I fear we’ll continue in the same devastating loop.
So good, thank you!
Sheila! Thank you for spending your time with these women, I so appreciate the support and time spent to send a quick kind note out into the world—it is received with deep appreciation.💜
Love the illustrations! Terrific post
Thank you for always uplifting and taking a moment to send a kind note, CG! I so appreciate you! I had such fun curating those images—there are some really cool manuscript illustrations out there. Hard not to share absolutely everything. Appreciate you!!
This is incredible! Bravo!
Eek, thank you! And thank you for spending your precious time with this one, I’m so grateful! 💜💜
Interesting and gorgeously presented. Way to go!
Thank you! And I so appreciate you spending your time with it 💜