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WOMEN IN KIEVAN RUS’

WOMEN IN KIEVAN RUS’. 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

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WOMEN IN KIEVAN RUS’

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  1. WOMEN IN KIEVAN RUS’

  2. WOMEN IN KIEVAN RUS’ • TRADITIONAL VIEWS & SOURCES • Most sources relatively silent about women • Princess Olga singular exception Princess Olga burning the Drevlians

  3. 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

  4. WOMEN IN KIEVAN RUS’ • ATTITUDES ABOUT WOMEN • Christian Kiev • Increased subjugation & misogyny • Church promoted 2 views: • GOOD women • EVIL women

  5. 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

  6. 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

  7. WOMEN IN KIEVAN RUS’ • SOURCES OF WOMEN’S POWER/FREEDOM • Reproductive roles • Complete control over childbirth & childrearing • Still much association with magic/sorcery

  8. WOMEN IN KIEVAN RUS’ SOURCES OF WOMEN’S POWER/FREEDOM • Economic roles • Labor essential to survival of peasant household • Could run estates/businesses in absence of husbands • Often controlled household finances

  9. 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

  10. 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

  11. 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)

  12. WOMEN IN KIEVAN RUS’ • SOURCES OF WOMEN’S POWER/FREEDOM • Other sources • Folk healers • Convents • Resistance to male authority

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