Women Mystics in a Male‐Dominated Culture
Women Mystics in a Male‐Dominated Culture
Concerned that educated women would threaten male authority in religion and politics, a misogynous culture of male domination emerged to subordinate and restrict women's lives. Still concerned with potential heterodox threats, the church found itself in the paradoxical position of needing to enforce a conservative orthodoxy while at the same time not wanting to alienate those followers of popular religious trends who were also devoutly Catholic. As such, many women mystics who were prominent in popular movements were supported and even canonized. The spiritual piety of these women achieved greater and greater recognition and their writings flourished. Many, however, were wholly dependent upon their male spiritual advisors who had the power to determine their success or failure as mystics.
Keywords: canonized, Inquisition, misogynous, mujer varonil, mystics, popular religious trends, spiritual advisors, St Teresa de Avila
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