WOMEN IN KIEVAN RUS’
TRADITIONAL VIEWS & SOURCES Most sources relatively silent about women Princess Olga singular exception Princess Olga burning the Drevlians
WOMEN IN KIEVAN RUS’ ATTITUDES ABOUT WOMEN Pre-Christian society Women afforded power/respect through reproductive role Some matrilineal tribes But men still controlled society
WOMEN IN KIEVAN RUS’ ATTITUDES ABOUT WOMEN Christian Kiev Increased subjugation & misogyny Church promoted 2 views: GOOD women EVIL women
WOMEN IN KIEVAN RUS’ 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
WOMEN IN KIEVAN RUS’ PATRIARCHAL STRUCTURE Traditional interpretation: Men ran show, women excluded from public life Women inferior & subordinate Assumed women accepted inferiority Relegated to domesticity
WOMEN IN KIEVAN RUS’ SOURCES OF WOMEN’S POWER/FREEDOM Reproductive roles Complete control over childbirth & childrearing Still much association with magic/sorcery
WOMEN IN KIEVAN RUS’ Economic roles Labor essential to survival of peasant household Could run estates/businesses in absence of husbands Often controlled household finances SOURCES OF WOMEN’S POWER/FREEDOM
WOMEN IN KIEVAN RUS’ SOURCES OF WOMEN’S POWER/FREEDOM 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
WOMEN IN KIEVAN RUS’ SOURCES OF WOMEN’S POWER/FREEDOM Property rights Had own inheritance: “portions” Provisions made for widows Could buy, sell, own land & slaves
WOMEN IN KIEVAN RUS’ SOURCES OF WOMEN’S POWER/FREEDOM 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)
WOMEN IN KIEVAN RUS’ SOURCES OF WOMEN’S POWER/FREEDOM Other sources Folk healers Convents Resistance to male authority