Christine De PizanJoin now to read essay Christine De PizanChristine de PizanThe poor little, rich girl, would probably be the modern term some might use for describing Chistine de Pizan. Although she was one of the first women to speak out on women’s rights, it is easy to dismiss her as a privileged woman with various rants that was basically ignored. She was well educated and her family was well connected, politically, socially and intellectually, with those who held power and influence in France in the early 1400s, and she did write about women’s issues at a time when most women were not educated and could not read her work (Bizzell 540). However, to only see this part of her life would not be a fair depiction of de Pizan or her contribution to rhetoric. She not only wrote about a better life for women in her society, but she also lived it. Her writings on misogynistic behavior in writing, and in society as whole, inspired future generations stimulated (with a few centuries delay) the women’s movement and defined feminist rhetoric.
To begin let’s take a look at her life. She was born in Venice in 1364, to a father who was well educated, and soon became the court astrologer and physician to King Charles V, of France (Bizzell 540). She received an exceptional education, being tutored by her father and various court tutors in Latin, French, Italian and the use of rhetoric. She also later married a legal secretary of the French court and learned about ars dictaminis (the art of composition) and legal script (Bizzell 540). This certainly put her in a category of privilege that most women, including those of any wealth, did not have access to. But, I would argue that it was because of this privilege that she was able to make the statements that she did. If she were one of the more common women of the time, the class that might have been more identified with the lower status of women, then she would not have had access to education or the ability to write eloquently. So, basically, for any woman to have written in opposition of the subjugation of women, and written it in a manner to be taken seriously, she would had to have been one of privilege. Therefore, the argument that she was too privileged to know about the lower status of women is mute. No one else at this time could have been able to do what she did.
However, she wasn’t all talk (or writing for that matter). She not only wrote about empowerment for women, she lived it. She was the first woman to support herself and her family by writing (Ritchie 32). When her father and husband died suddenly, she was left without any means of income to support her mother and children. She took to writing poetry and ballads for members of the court of France in order to support them all (Ritchie 32). Once again, it was privilege that put her in the position to do this, but that privilege enabled her to make a ground breaking move that no other woman, wealthy or not, was able to accomplish. This certainly opened the door for more women to follow her in the future.
• “But why does it take a lot for an oppressed family to succeed and keep their heads above water?” – Robert Hunter, A Conversation about Race, Gender and Sexuality (1996)
A great piece from the late author David E. Thompson’s life, in his new book Race, Gender and Sexuality: A Biographical Analysis of an American Man, finds the following: “Harrison Jones, a black man from New York, was arrested and indicted on the murder of Betty Stapley-Jones, a man whose identity was shrouded in guilt. The case came as a relief to Stapley-Jones’ father, but he had been told of Harrison’s arrest just before his return to Harlem. The FBI knew Harrison’s family history; the charges were dropped, however, after an FBI agent told Harrison that the girl had moved back to his home. Harrison later told Thompson that when he woke up on May 12, 1998 to find the FBI agent outside his home, he said he had found a sign with a piece of paper that read ‘Stapley-Jones’. ‘My heart was broken for Stapley-Jones…I knew it was the truth. I was sorry for Stapley-Jones’ father, but she had not come to see me. I had gone back to work after I arrived in Harlem, working as a cleaner. But the FBI agent had told me Harrison had been arrested, and I had given up the hope of finding out what he had in store for me as I continued my story.” “I told Harrison I was going to be the next Stapley-Jones, so I decided to talk to him directly.” – Charles Blackberry Jr., A Conversation About Race, Gender and Sexuality (1994)
It is a pity that only one of Mr. Thompson’s many writings on race and gender did not reach the front page. It was a brilliant book on the story of Jim Crow that found its way to the front page. In it Thompson traces the story of Jim Crow, which is largely ignored by many historians today. Jim Crow was not about the white man taking over America; he was about blacks taking over men’s business after black men left from their masters or in the first place being thrown off their lands. Jim Crow was about the people that kept the country in slavery: the land-owning class. The first step to removing the oppressive government from white society was to eliminate the white race from most of its responsibilities. -R. E. Cummings, An Introductory Essay in the Story of Jim Crow (1983)
In its short, but important, chapter on Jim Crow, Dr. Cummings’ original contribution is one that must be taken seriously. The
The feminist point of view is to understand the value of feminism in the human condition as a dynamic that encompasses all individuals and in which all values, no matter how negative, are understood and defined as individuals who are, together, valued and have an existence that we all value, and value deeply. Many of the principles and values that contribute to this statement are found in these concepts of beauty, justice and fairness. These values, which are defined and valued by women, are based on values, ideals and values that are central to her mission for the coming generations of women (Barrett, 1996). These values, and the ways in which those values are defined and valued, serve as what we would call her value system. Her values system is a system that, together, provides for women a sense of security, hope, empowerment, stability and the possibility of success, not just for ourselves and for those outside of it (Barrett, 1996). It is not simply women-centered or feminist-oriented. Rather, a value system is based not on individual experiences, but the whole experience of life. It is something that is based on individuals.
By saying that an individual, regardless of his or her own actions, who feels empowered and lives an effective and fulfilling lifestyle must always have something to offer her, while the entire society is dominated by men, it is important to grasp in a very basic way the power of gender. Herein lies the problem of male power and patriarchy.
Gender is defined in a way that allows for the following assumptions about how society works.
People’s “rights” and interests are defined as those of a group of people and are valued for their participation and contribution to the group as a whole. Patriarchy is a form of government that is rooted in the hierarchies of power, power to control the individual, group and society at large. These are values that make it possible for women to be the only females that can do what they do best. Patriarchy is, by definition, patriarchal. As a society, we must change it so that women can be empowered and thrive within it like males to win the women’s suffrage.
It is important to think of this notion of gender in terms of a binary of two groups, men and women. Men are defined by the male privilege and value system. They possess the power and privilege of government. Women are defined by the male social or sexual hierarchy and power, which, though rooted in the patriarchal system, also have their own dynamics as women.
It is important to remember that this dichotomy is based on women. Women are in control of society and do not have to work alongside men to live off of it
The feminist point of view is to understand the value of feminism in the human condition as a dynamic that encompasses all individuals and in which all values, no matter how negative, are understood and defined as individuals who are, together, valued and have an existence that we all value, and value deeply. Many of the principles and values that contribute to this statement are found in these concepts of beauty, justice and fairness. These values, which are defined and valued by women, are based on values, ideals and values that are central to her mission for the coming generations of women (Barrett, 1996). These values, and the ways in which those values are defined and valued, serve as what we would call her value system. Her values system is a system that, together, provides for women a sense of security, hope, empowerment, stability and the possibility of success, not just for ourselves and for those outside of it (Barrett, 1996). It is not simply women-centered or feminist-oriented. Rather, a value system is based not on individual experiences, but the whole experience of life. It is something that is based on individuals.
By saying that an individual, regardless of his or her own actions, who feels empowered and lives an effective and fulfilling lifestyle must always have something to offer her, while the entire society is dominated by men, it is important to grasp in a very basic way the power of gender. Herein lies the problem of male power and patriarchy.
Gender is defined in a way that allows for the following assumptions about how society works.
People’s “rights” and interests are defined as those of a group of people and are valued for their participation and contribution to the group as a whole. Patriarchy is a form of government that is rooted in the hierarchies of power, power to control the individual, group and society at large. These are values that make it possible for women to be the only females that can do what they do best. Patriarchy is, by definition, patriarchal. As a society, we must change it so that women can be empowered and thrive within it like males to win the women’s suffrage.
It is important to think of this notion of gender in terms of a binary of two groups, men and women. Men are defined by the male privilege and value system. They possess the power and privilege of government. Women are defined by the male social or sexual hierarchy and power, which, though rooted in the patriarchal system, also have their own dynamics as women.
It is important to remember that this dichotomy is based on women. Women are in control of society and do not have to work alongside men to live off of it
The feminist point of view is to understand the value of feminism in the human condition as a dynamic that encompasses all individuals and in which all values, no matter how negative, are understood and defined as individuals who are, together, valued and have an existence that we all value, and value deeply. Many of the principles and values that contribute to this statement are found in these concepts of beauty, justice and fairness. These values, which are defined and valued by women, are based on values, ideals and values that are central to her mission for the coming generations of women (Barrett, 1996). These values, and the ways in which those values are defined and valued, serve as what we would call her value system. Her values system is a system that, together, provides for women a sense of security, hope, empowerment, stability and the possibility of success, not just for ourselves and for those outside of it (Barrett, 1996). It is not simply women-centered or feminist-oriented. Rather, a value system is based not on individual experiences, but the whole experience of life. It is something that is based on individuals.
By saying that an individual, regardless of his or her own actions, who feels empowered and lives an effective and fulfilling lifestyle must always have something to offer her, while the entire society is dominated by men, it is important to grasp in a very basic way the power of gender. Herein lies the problem of male power and patriarchy.
Gender is defined in a way that allows for the following assumptions about how society works.
People’s “rights” and interests are defined as those of a group of people and are valued for their participation and contribution to the group as a whole. Patriarchy is a form of government that is rooted in the hierarchies of power, power to control the individual, group and society at large. These are values that make it possible for women to be the only females that can do what they do best. Patriarchy is, by definition, patriarchal. As a society, we must change it so that women can be empowered and thrive within it like males to win the women’s suffrage.
It is important to think of this notion of gender in terms of a binary of two groups, men and women. Men are defined by the male privilege and value system. They possess the power and privilege of government. Women are defined by the male social or sexual hierarchy and power, which, though rooted in the patriarchal system, also have their own dynamics as women.
It is important to remember that this dichotomy is based on women. Women are in control of society and do not have to work alongside men to live off of it
The feminist point of view is to understand the value of feminism in the human condition as a dynamic that encompasses all individuals and in which all values, no matter how negative, are understood and defined as individuals who are, together, valued and have an existence that we all value, and value deeply. Many of the principles and values that contribute to this statement are found in these concepts of beauty, justice and fairness. These values, which are defined and valued by women, are based on values, ideals and values that are central to her mission for the coming generations of women (Barrett, 1996). These values, and the ways in which those values are defined and valued, serve as what we would call her value system. Her values system is a system that, together, provides for women a sense of security, hope, empowerment, stability and the possibility of success, not just for ourselves and for those outside of it (Barrett, 1996). It is not simply women-centered or feminist-oriented. Rather, a value system is based not on individual experiences, but the whole experience of life. It is something that is based on individuals.
By saying that an individual, regardless of his or her own actions, who feels empowered and lives an effective and fulfilling lifestyle must always have something to offer her, while the entire society is dominated by men, it is important to grasp in a very basic way the power of gender. Herein lies the problem of male power and patriarchy.
Gender is defined in a way that allows for the following assumptions about how society works.
People’s “rights” and interests are defined as those of a group of people and are valued for their participation and contribution to the group as a whole. Patriarchy is a form of government that is rooted in the hierarchies of power, power to control the individual, group and society at large. These are values that make it possible for women to be the only females that can do what they do best. Patriarchy is, by definition, patriarchal. As a society, we must change it so that women can be empowered and thrive within it like males to win the women’s suffrage.
It is important to think of this notion of gender in terms of a binary of two groups, men and women. Men are defined by the male privilege and value system. They possess the power and privilege of government. Women are defined by the male social or sexual hierarchy and power, which, though rooted in the patriarchal system, also have their own dynamics as women.
It is important to remember that this dichotomy is based on women. Women are in control of society and do not have to work alongside men to live off of it
The feminist point of view is to understand the value of feminism in the human condition as a dynamic that encompasses all individuals and in which all values, no matter how negative, are understood and defined as individuals who are, together, valued and have an existence that we all value, and value deeply. Many of the principles and values that contribute to this statement are found in these concepts of beauty, justice and fairness. These values, which are defined and valued by women, are based on values, ideals and values that are central to her mission for the coming generations of women (Barrett, 1996). These values, and the ways in which those values are defined and valued, serve as what we would call her value system. Her values system is a system that, together, provides for women a sense of security, hope, empowerment, stability and the possibility of success, not just for ourselves and for those outside of it (Barrett, 1996). It is not simply women-centered or feminist-oriented. Rather, a value system is based not on individual experiences, but the whole experience of life. It is something that is based on individuals.
By saying that an individual, regardless of his or her own actions, who feels empowered and lives an effective and fulfilling lifestyle must always have something to offer her, while the entire society is dominated by men, it is important to grasp in a very basic way the power of gender. Herein lies the problem of male power and patriarchy.
Gender is defined in a way that allows for the following assumptions about how society works.
People’s “rights” and interests are defined as those of a group of people and are valued for their participation and contribution to the group as a whole. Patriarchy is a form of government that is rooted in the hierarchies of power, power to control the individual, group and society at large. These are values that make it possible for women to be the only females that can do what they do best. Patriarchy is, by definition, patriarchal. As a society, we must change it so that women can be empowered and thrive within it like males to win the women’s suffrage.
It is important to think of this notion of gender in terms of a binary of two groups, men and women. Men are defined by the male privilege and value system. They possess the power and privilege of government. Women are defined by the male social or sexual hierarchy and power, which, though rooted in the patriarchal system, also have their own dynamics as women.
It is important to remember that this dichotomy is based on women. Women are in control of society and do not have to work alongside men to live off of it
This leads to my point of her inspiring future women writers. Joy Ritchie and Kate Ronald mention that, “The Book of the City of Ladies, modeled on Augustine’s Civitate Dei, expands her arguments against the anti-woman writing of her time and joins a tradition of women’s writing that would continue throughout the Renaissance and into the seventeenth century with Jane Anger, Rachel Speght, and, in the Americas, Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz” (Rithchie 32). When de Pizan writes, in The Book of the City of Ladies, “Those men who have attacked women out of jealousy are those wicked ones who have seen and realized that many women have greater understanding and are more noble on conduct that they themselves, and thus they are pained and disdainful” (Ritchie 41), she is making a statement that is almost echoed by Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz, when she said, “Oh, that all men—and I, who am but an ignorant woman, first of all—might take the measure of our abilities before setting out to study and, what is worse, write in our jealous aspirations to equal and even surpass others” (Bizzell 786). While de la Cruz is a little more sarcastic, it must be noted that she didn’t have the same privilege, so she could say the things that de Pizan did, but she had to be a little less obvious about it. I can be argued that de la Cruz probably didn’t read de Pizan, but whether