History 393 - Constructions of Gender in the Middle Ages Cotts

Institution:

Whitman College

Subject:

Description:

Medieval religious thought and practice presents us with a string of paradoxes relating to the position of women and the problem of gender difference, for instance: One woman (Eve) was the source of original sin while another (the Virgin Mary) brought the Savior into the world; God could be described as a wrathful father or a nurturing mother; the Roman Church was a loving mother to its proponents and the Whore of Babylon to its critics. This course will attempt to sort out these paradoxes and explore the problem of gender by discussing three major issues: the status of women in society and the determination of sex roles; the intellectual production of major female religious figures; and the religious symbolism relating to gender in the Middle Ages. Assigned readings will include primary and secondary sources (at a fairly advanced level), and students will be expected to carry out some independent research. The course format will center around discussion.

Credits:

3.00 - 4.00

Credit Hours:

Prerequisites:

Corequisites:

Exclusions:

Level:

Instructional Type:

Lecture

Notes:

Additional Information:

Historical Version(s):

Institution Website:

www.whitman.edu

Phone Number:

(509) 527-5111

Regional Accreditation:

Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities

Calendar System:

Semester

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