A Woman's Purpose

Artemisia Gentileschi, Judith Slaying Holofernes, 1618

        In the Middle Ages, European women or even women in general, were not expected to be independent, bold or brave. They are considered inferior, property owned with specific roles of women such as being the cleaning lady, timid and conserved. Many times I've heard the quote "A young lady should be seen and not heard", My mother has told me that many times, it comprises of so many meanings, should I not speak my mind or should I not defend myself? Or does it just mean I shouldn't be loud? John Berger explains the male gaze as being an activity of assessment, "…men act and women appear." (Berger 47), women were obligated to cater to the every need of a man in the Middle Ages according to John Berger. In addition, Bell Hooks explains the specific roles and requirements of women in a house hold. Hooks used herself and her brother as examples, she described herself as being aggressive and brave and her brother as a timid, passive individual. Her dad made it known that this was not the way her brother or herself should act, this was her first introduction to Patriarchy and from then she was against it, even if she didn't know what it meant at the time. Chadwick also explains the role of women in her writings, she clearly highlights the purpose of women during that time, “… woman must be a learner, listening quietly and with due submission”, women are meant to be students and not teachers, their brain is perceived to be knowledge-less, empty and useless as they are. (Chadwick, 45)

       As time progressed it got easier for women to be more expressive but that does not mean that the problem went away. Some women just became more open about who they are and in turn their bravery heighten. This painting by Gentileschi supports the prior statement, in the Middle Ages women would not be brave enough to do such things as beheading someone, but Judith was brave enough to do so and this shows Women Empowerment. Women were no longer only wives, maids, or just mothers; they evolved into heroines and artists, just to name a few.

https://www.encyclopedia.com/history/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/women-renaissance-and-reformation

The article in the above link gives information of how the life and responsibilities of a woman during the renaissance. The author outlined different categories such as marriage, motherhood, women in family and widowhood. It paints the image of the rising importance of women during this time.

If women were artist, their works were attributed to men, so many men have taken credit for the work of women. She slaved and he got rewarded, many times has this happened, and submissive gender is just supposed to accept this, “Elsabetta Siriani, was so accomplished a painter that she was accused of signing work her father had done. To prove the wags were wrong, she began painting in public and eventually opened a school for women artists” (Guerrilla Girls, 30). Siriani could not just say it was her work and that be the case, instead she had to prove herself to the public unlike her father who just put his signature on it and just like that her work became his.

Emily Mary Osborn, Nameless and Friendless, 1857

This picture depicts a woman doing something unusual; selling her art work. In the Middle Ages a male artist was not rear but frowned upon, they could never openly express their feelings on canvas, but here she is doing that. Osborn also let her work portray the hardship these female artists go through but painting the male buyer with a face of displeasure or as being unimpressed by her work.

Talent should not be judged or labeled by gender, women are as and even more artistic than men. A sport t-shirt label I love says,  "Judged by achievement. Not by gender" and this should represent his reaction to her painting.

All these women have paved the way for other women in oppressed situations. It gave them more courage to step out of their imposed gender "obligations". Freely expressing their artist skills, demanding to be treated with respect and valued for more than their sexual nature, maternal capabilities and feministic requirements. 

I wanted to also include this article, these are the women that began to pave the way for little girls now or even those born during the early Renaissance and 19th Century. Fighting gender norms to do what they want or love.

http://time.com/3672297/future-gender-norms/

Elisabetta Siriani, Portia Wounding Her Thigh, 1664

Siriani's painting of Portia wounding herself depicts the extent a woman would go through to be considered and included in the conversation with men and "of" men, they want to contribute their intellect and talent instead of being the conversation of men for their appearance. Portia wanted to prove that her being a woman does not mean she is any less strong than Brutus.

During all this time Gender Roles have started to downgrade but that does not mean it is completely gone, "The Role of Women" is not longer just that, woman have a little more leeway to express themselves without being completely condemned for doing so.

Works Cited

1.  Chadwick, Whitney. Women, Art, and Society. Langara College, 2016.
2. The Guerrilla Girls' Bedside Companion to the History of Western Art. Penguin Books, 2006.
3. Hooks, Bell. “Understanding Patriarchy”. The Will to Change. New York: Atria Books, 2004. 17-33. Print.
4. Berger, John. Ways of Seeing. D.W. Thorpe, 1994.