Notes literature Feminist Classics
Rosalind Brown-Grant (2003) – Christine de Pisan as a Defender of Women.................................2
Key concepts ........................................................................................................................................2
Short summary of the text ....................................................................................................................3
Summary of the text .............................................................................................................................4
Introduction......................................................................................................................................4
Medieval misogyny .........................................................................................................................4
The medieval case for women .........................................................................................................5
A woman’s response to antifeminism..............................................................................................5
Conclusion .......................................................................................................................................7
, Rosalind Brown-Grant (2003) – Christine de Pisan as a Defender of Women
Brown-Grant, Rosalind, ‘Christine de Pisan as a Defender of Women’ in Barbara Altmann &
Deborah McGrady (eds), Christine de Pisan: A Casebook, London/New York 2003: pp.81-100.
Key concepts
Christine de Pisan’s Advocacy:
- Christine de Pisan was a medieval writer who passionately advocated for the equality
and importance of women in society.
Challenging Misogynistic Views:
- She actively opposed the misogynistic beliefs that claimed men and women were
fundamentally incompatible and that their relations were inherently antagonistic.
Critique of Courtly Love:
- Christine criticized works like “Roman de la Rose” for depicting love and marriage as
damaging and contradictory, leading to harm for both men and women.
Caution Against Passionate Love:
- She advised women to avoid passionate love, arguing that it made them lose self-control
and made them vulnerable to deception by men.
Emphasis on Complementarity:
- Christine highlighted the idea of complementarity between the sexes, valuing the bond
between men and women as mutually supportive.
Social Cohesion:
- She believed that women played a crucial role in maintaining social cohesion and
harmony within society.
Division of Labor:
- Christine argued for a complementary division of labor between men and women, each
contributing to society in their respective roles
Responsibility of Men:
- She called on men to recognize and appreciate the contributions of women and fulfill
their moral duty to love, protect, and show gratitude to them.
Legal and Social Justice:
- Christine framed her arguments within a legalistic framework, condemning misogyny
as a destabilizing and unjust force in society.
Rosalind Brown-Grant (2003) – Christine de Pisan as a Defender of Women.................................2
Key concepts ........................................................................................................................................2
Short summary of the text ....................................................................................................................3
Summary of the text .............................................................................................................................4
Introduction......................................................................................................................................4
Medieval misogyny .........................................................................................................................4
The medieval case for women .........................................................................................................5
A woman’s response to antifeminism..............................................................................................5
Conclusion .......................................................................................................................................7
, Rosalind Brown-Grant (2003) – Christine de Pisan as a Defender of Women
Brown-Grant, Rosalind, ‘Christine de Pisan as a Defender of Women’ in Barbara Altmann &
Deborah McGrady (eds), Christine de Pisan: A Casebook, London/New York 2003: pp.81-100.
Key concepts
Christine de Pisan’s Advocacy:
- Christine de Pisan was a medieval writer who passionately advocated for the equality
and importance of women in society.
Challenging Misogynistic Views:
- She actively opposed the misogynistic beliefs that claimed men and women were
fundamentally incompatible and that their relations were inherently antagonistic.
Critique of Courtly Love:
- Christine criticized works like “Roman de la Rose” for depicting love and marriage as
damaging and contradictory, leading to harm for both men and women.
Caution Against Passionate Love:
- She advised women to avoid passionate love, arguing that it made them lose self-control
and made them vulnerable to deception by men.
Emphasis on Complementarity:
- Christine highlighted the idea of complementarity between the sexes, valuing the bond
between men and women as mutually supportive.
Social Cohesion:
- She believed that women played a crucial role in maintaining social cohesion and
harmony within society.
Division of Labor:
- Christine argued for a complementary division of labor between men and women, each
contributing to society in their respective roles
Responsibility of Men:
- She called on men to recognize and appreciate the contributions of women and fulfill
their moral duty to love, protect, and show gratitude to them.
Legal and Social Justice:
- Christine framed her arguments within a legalistic framework, condemning misogyny
as a destabilizing and unjust force in society.
