WOMEN IN KIEVAN RUS’. TRADITIONAL VIEWS & SOURCES Most sources relatively silent about women ...

WOMEN IN KIEVAN RUS’


TRADITIONAL VIEWS & SOURCES

Most sources relatively silent about women

Princess Olga singular exception

Princess Olga burning the Drevlians


ATTITUDES ABOUT WOMEN

Pre-Christian society

Women afforded power/respect through reproductive role

Some matrilineal tribes

But men still controlled society


ATTITUDES ABOUT WOMEN

Christian Kiev

Increased subjugation & misogyny

Church promoted 2 views:

• GOOD women

• EVIL women


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


PATRIARCHAL STRUCTURE

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

Women inferior & subordinate

Assumed women accepted inferiority

Relegated to domesticity


SOURCES OF WOMEN’S POWER/FREEDOM

Reproductive roles

Complete control over childbirth & childrearing

Still much association with magic/sorcery


Economic roles

Labor essential to survival of peasant household

Could run estates/businesses in absence of husbands

Often controlled household finances




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



Property rights

Had own inheritance: “portions”

Provisions made for widows

Could buy, sell, own land & slaves



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)



Other sources

Folk healers

Convents

Resistance to male authority

WOMEN IN KIEVAN RUS’. TRADITIONAL VIEWS & SOURCES Most sources relatively silent about women ...

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