Common Women: Prostitution and Sexuality in Medieval England
- ISBN-10
- 0195062426
- ISBN-13
- 9780195062427
- Category
- England
- Pages
- 232
- Language
- English
- Published
- 1996
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press on Demand
- Author
- Ruth Mazo Karras
Description
"Common women" in medieval England were prostitutes, whose distinguishing feature was not that they took money for sex but that they belonged to all men in common. Common Women: Prostitution and Sexuality in Medieval England tells the stories of these women's lives: their entrance into the trade because of poor job and marriage prospects or because of seduction or rape; their experiences as streetwalkers, brothel workers or the medieval equivalent of call girls; their customers, from poor apprentices to priests to wealthy foreign merchants; and their relations with those among whom they lived. Common Women crosses the boundary from social to cultural history by asking not only about the experiences of prostitutes but also about the meaning of prostitution in medieval culture. The teachings of the church attributed both lust and greed, in generous measure, to women as a group. Stories of repentant whores were popular among medieval preachers and writers because prostitutes were the epitome of feminine sin. Through a sensitive use of a wide variety of imaginative and didactic texts, Ruth Karras shows that while prostitutes as individuals were marginalized within medieval culture, prostitution as an institution was central to the medieval understanding of what it meant to be a woman. This important work will be of interest to scholars and students of history, women's studies, and the history of sexuality.
Get the book
Other editions
-
- 1996-01-31
- 234 pages
- Ebook
- Oxford University Press, USA
Similar books
-
Three Stories
By Alan BennettThe first ever collection in paperback of Alan Bennett's fiction - published in the year when he has been given the British Book Lifetime Achievement Award Here are Alan Bennett's hugely admired, triumphantly reviewed and bestselling ...
-
Karen Brown's England: Charming Bed and Breakfasts, 1998
By Karen Brown, June Brown, Inc. StaffHELPERBY BRAFFERTON HALL Map : 6d Cobblestones border the main street of Helperby , a village where the number of shops ( four ) just outnumbers the pubs . Fronting onto the narrow lane that leads to the church , Brafferton Hall was ...
-
Hôri pôtara āṇi agnicashaka
By J. K. Rowling, Maṅjushā ĀmaḍekaraFourteen-year-old Harry Potter joins the Weasleys at the Quidditch World Cup, then enters his fourth year at Hogwarts Academy where he is mysteriously entered in an unusual contest that challenges his wizarding skills, friendships and ...
-
The Harry Potter Collection: Years 1-6
By RowlingCollects in a boxed set the first six books in the series that relates the adventures of young Harry Potter, who attends Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, where he and others of his kind learn their craft.
-
Die Märchen von Beedle dem Barden
By Joanne K. RowlingDie Märchen von Beedle dem Barden
-
Hali Bote yu mi shi: quan cai hui ben
By J. K. RowlingWhen the Chamber of Secrets is opened again at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, second-year student Harry Potter finds himself in danger from a dark power that has once more been released on the school.
-
哈利·波特与阿兹卡班囚徒: 全彩绘本
By J. K. RowlingDuring his third year at Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry, Harry Potter must confront the devious and dangerous wizard responsible for his parents' deaths.
-
奥兰多
By 吴尔夫奥兰多
-
我輩孤雛
By 石黑一雄我輩孤雛
-
Shakespeare's Britain
By Jonathan Bate, Dora Thornton, Becky AllenFrom the common playgoers to the royal patrons, this book explores Britain from the perspective of Shakespeareâ__s audience â__ revealing how the significant issues of the day were explored at the playhouse through objects and quotations ...