Medieval Misogyny or Gendered Politics: Rethinking John Gerson (1363–1429)

Abstract

Abstract The late medieval Parisian university chancellor Jean Gerson (1363–1429) offers a productive case study for integrating biographically centered intellectual histories with feminist critiques as a means of understanding the perpetuation and evolution of misogyny. Gerson's famous denunciations of medieval women's mysticism contributed to the early modern European witch hunts and an intensification of clerical oversight of pious women's spiritual practices. Gerson, however, also defended women's capacity for contemplation and right to well‐informed and conscientious pastoral care. This essay juxtaposes Gerson‐centered and feminist treatments of Gerson's misogynist legacy for the sake of focusing researchers' attention on the forces that conspired to encourage Gerson and other similar individuals, who have been sympathetic to women's concerns in some instances, to make aggressive and virulent contributions to misogynist ideas and policies.

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