Renaissance Family Life

Renaissance family acted as a central social institution Families were patriarchal Before a man could achieve legal autonomy, he had to be liberated by his father

Men usually married in their late 20’s or early 30’s Women often were married by their mid teens Economic concerns dominated marriages

Result of marriage age gap… Prostitution was rampant High incidence of date rape and sexual violence Men often died before their spouses Numerous blended families

Renaissance women… Status did not change much from the Middle Ages (although wealthy women actually lost some status) Divorce was available in certain areas Sexual double standard

Faced significant barriers to their intellectual pursuits Their focus lay in the domestic sphere Came to be viewed as objects of art or pawns in marriage alliances

Christine di Pisan First modern statement of feminism, The City of Ladies Fought to retain her property and turned to writing to support her family

Isabella d’Este First Lady of the World Ruled Mantua while her husband was away at war, and behind his back when he was not

Laura Cereta Refused to remarry or join a convent when her husband died when she was 18 Wrote works advocating equality for women