WOMEN IN KIEVAN RUS’

WOMEN IN KIEVAN RUS’

TRADITIONAL VIEWS & SOURCES

Most sources relatively silent about women

Princess Olga singular exception

Princess Olga burning the Drevlians

WOMEN IN KIEVAN RUS’

ATTITUDES ABOUT WOMEN

Pre-Christian society

Women afforded power/respect through reproductive role

Some matrilineal tribes

But men still controlled society

WOMEN IN KIEVAN RUS’

ATTITUDES ABOUT WOMEN

Christian Kiev

Increased subjugation & misogyny

Church promoted 2 views:

• GOOD women

• EVIL women

WOMEN IN KIEVAN RUS’

PATRIARCHAL STRUCTURE

Establishment of state brought public & private hierarchy

All people loyal subjects of Grand Prince

Women & children had similar obligation to men

Men received major social, political, economic benefits

WOMEN IN KIEVAN RUS’

PATRIARCHAL STRUCTURE

Traditional interpretation: Men ran show, women excluded from public life

Women inferior & subordinate

Assumed women accepted inferiority

Relegated to domesticity

WOMEN IN KIEVAN RUS’

SOURCES OF WOMEN’S POWER/FREEDOM

Reproductive roles

Complete control over childbirth & childrearing

Still much association with magic/sorcery

WOMEN IN KIEVAN RUS’

Economic roles

Labor essential to survival of peasant household

Could run estates/businesses in absence of husbands

Often controlled household finances

SOURCES OF WOMEN’S POWER/FREEDOM

WOMEN IN KIEVAN RUS’

SOURCES OF WOMEN’S POWER/FREEDOM

Sexuality

Women’s sexuality controlled but protected

All rape victims compensated directly/ burden of proof on accused

Loss of virginity did not make women unmarriageable

WOMEN IN KIEVAN RUS’

SOURCES OF WOMEN’S POWER/FREEDOM

Property rights

Had own inheritance: “portions”

Provisions made for widows

Could buy, sell, own land & slaves

WOMEN IN KIEVAN RUS’

SOURCES OF WOMEN’S POWER/FREEDOM

Elder women’s rights

Accorded much respect, authority, prestige

Had complete authority over other women in household

Could become head of household (in absence of male)

WOMEN IN KIEVAN RUS’

SOURCES OF WOMEN’S POWER/FREEDOM

Other sources

Folk healers

Convents

Resistance to male authority