S. Kovbasiuk, PhD in History
Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Kyiv, Ukraine
DOI: https://doi.org/10.17721/1728-2640.2017.135.4.03
CHANGING ROLES: CONSTRUCTION AMD DECONSTRUCTION OF GENDER IN THE AGE OF REFORMATION
This paper aims to explore construction and deconstruction of gender beliefs in the Age of Reformation, which made possible a change in established gender characteristics, so to say, a change of gender roles. The research rests as upon works of Martin Luther and Jean Calvin, leaders of the Reformation movement, so on treatises by women theologians (Argula von Grumbach, Marie Dentière, and Olympia Morata). We analysed adherence of main actors to the ideas stated in the narratives while exploring their personal life experience.
We came to conclusion that the Reformation epoch was really a time for a possible change of gender roles. Women, despite existing stereotypes, became theologians, teachers and biblical scholars. Nevertheless, this kind of scenario was still a rare case, an option for few women, which, thanks to own talents and favourable social situation, crossed established gender borders. It was the case of Argula von Grumbach, Marie Dentière, and Olympia Morata. In order to justify their not enough “womanish” role in course of the Reformation, women theologians had to deconstruct gender stereotypes in numerous pamphlets, public letters, dialogues, and treatises that opposed patristic, scholastic, humanistic and reformation traditions of distinguishing between masculine and feminine behaviour. The men reformers, in their turn, adhering in theory to patristic misogynistic views, frequently supported women reformers, though highlighting those cases of roles’ exchanges as extraordinary ones, caused by the absence of men as main actors.
Key words: Reformation, gender, Argula von Grumbach, Marie Dentière, Olympia Morata, Martin Luther, Jean Calvin.
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