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>>I've always found it interesting, the ratio between >>boys and girls who study history. I think we at Lee >>may have a little more of the latter than a lot of >>other universities precisely because we have, in >>general, more females than male students. I think it >>stands now at 3 girls for every 1 guy, though when I >>started at Lee in '98, it was closer to 4-5, so things >>have evened out somewhat. Nonetheless, I think there >>is still a disparity, in History and Political Science >>areas, with a vastly larger male than female >>population. > >I AM UNIMFORMED AS TO THE RATIO OF STUDENTS AT LEE, >BUT OVERALL IN THE RECENT PAST MEN HAVE OUTNUMBERED >WOMEN IN THE STUDY OF HISTORY OF ANY PERIOD. AS I >SAID ELSEWHERE I THINK THIS TREND IS CHANGING > >>I think a lot of it may have to do, at >>least where Medieval history is concerned, with the >>popular idea that it was such a barbarous and >>'uncivilised' age. Feminists like to point the finger >>and say that it was all due to male aggression, which >>went unchecked as women were fettered to what they >>perceive as the rampant chauvanism of the Middle Ages. >> I think that is a gross exaggeration, frankly. Yes, >>I wouldn't go so far as to say that there was anything >>even vaguely resembling equality, but there were >>certainly plenty of feminine role models, and more >>than a few stand out in my mind. > >I AM NOT SURE THE ARGUMENT HOLDS, MANY WOMEN ARE >ATTRACTED TO THE STUDY OF HISTORY BECAUSE IT DOES >ALLOW THEM TO POINT THESE THINGS OUT > > >>Some examples >>include: >> >>Eleanor d'Aquitaine: Wife of a king of France and then >>a king of England, wealthiest landholder, male OR >>female, in Western Europe, and one of the most pivotal >>figures of the 12th Century. In marrying Henry II, >>she all but engineered the state of affairs that would >>lead up to the outbreak of the Hundred Years' War, and >>she certainly played a pivotal role in her husband's >>policies, both foreign and domestic. There is a >>marvelous movie, 'The Lion in Winter', wherein >>Katherine Hepburn really illustrates, in my mind, the >>powerful personality and indomitable nature of >Eleanor. >> >>Catherine of Siena: A Late Medieval mystic, whom >>popes, kings, princes, and most anyone who WAS anyone >>sought out for advice and counsel. Educated and able >>to read and write, several of her letters remain, and >>there is one particularly humorous account where she >>actually scolds the Pope! Perhaps the only individual >>in Christendom who could get away with it, she was >>considered one of the wisest people of the age. >> >>What other examples can you guys (no pun intended!) >>think of, insofar as stand-out Medieval women are >>concerned? > >HOW ABOUT HELOISE > >MORE LATER > >John Wineland

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