Defamation and defense of women during the middle ages: some important sources

Abstract

The present article analyzes the work of certain anti-feminist authors who composed pictures of medieval women during the period between the twelfth and fifteenth centuries. The main roots of this anti feminism can be traced in the classical world and in patristic literatura, to finally reach its late medieval vernacular adaptation. The author of the article finally analyzes and criticizes certain characteristics of the period‘s prevailing misogyny, as well as the first manifestations in defense of women which appear in literature towards the end of the period.