The Story of Beatrice, a nun who became a prostitute and then reformed. The illustration of this manuscript is both integral to its story, forming the initial letter, and a marginal decoration. --The Koninklijke Bibliotheek

All cultures have their own particular understanding of what constitutes gender and sexuality. In the process of creating these definitions, every culture arrives at an understanding of what is acceptable and what is problematic. From this perspective we have assumed medieval culture also follows this pattern. Furthermore, we have come to understand in our study of medieval cultures that in considerations of gender and sexuality, that which was perceived as problematic became marginal. The categories which were considered problematic in the Middle Ages included prostitution and same-sex relations. In addition, medieval culture problematized the specification of what did and did not constitute marriage.

Compared with other groups which we study as marginal in relation to medieval society, the parameters of sexually marginalized groups were more fluid. Examining this fluidity proves to be indicative of medieval fears regarding the power relations of social and gender hierarchies and traditional roles. The fluidity of marginal categories meant that there were often differences between the rhetoric of marginality and the actual implementation of policies.

Because we consider sexuality to be contextually constructed, it is important to remember that contemporary ideas about sexuality influence the way in which we examine medieval constructions. It is unavoidable for us to examine gender and sexuality unbiased by our current view. Therefore our study of gender and sexuality in the Middle Ages entails attention to issues in modern sexualities as well. By realizing the limits of our own constructions of gender and sexuality we may allow ourselves a greater insight into the constructed nature of the catagories in any culture.

To aid you in the study of gender and sexuality in the Middle Ages, we have included an array of documents and links. Primary sources and secondary sources alike reveal the ways in which gender and sexuality are utilized as constructions both to control the balance of social and gender hierarchies and to explore the idea of otherness. In addition, we have included images which may illustrate the medieval conception of differing images of gender and sexuality.

• Documents

  • Passages from the morality play, Mary Magdalene -- Excerpts which portray the image of the prostitute and demonstrate the exploration of otherness in medieval theater.
  • Gratian on Marriage -- A number of guidelines regarding sex and marriage.
  • Two Versions of the Adelphopoiia Rite -- Translated excerpts of marriage rites that may have been used by same-sex couples.
  • The Passion of St. Sergius and Bacchus -- An excerpt from the Medieval Sourcebook showing the strong bond felt between two men.
  • Alain of Lille: Complaint of Nature -- "...A spectacular attack on homosexual activity..." and sexuality.
  • Other documents -- A listing of pertinent documents from the Medieval Sourcebook (Click to access the Sourcebook and the documents themselves) regarding constructions of sex and gender as well as marriage.

• Useful Links Related to Sexuality and Gender in the Middle Ages

  • Medieval Feminist Index

    -- This is an index which will lead you to a variety of sources, including journal articles, book reviews, and essays about women, sexuality, and gender in the Middle Ages.

  • Ruth Karras' Homepage

    -- Karras is the author of Common Women, a study of prostitution in Medieval England.

  • History of Prostitution

    -- This site is a document which briefly chronicles the history of prostitution in the western world from its earliest incarnations in the ancient Roman Empire to the modern period.

  • Women Writers of the Middle Ages

    --This link offers a variety of primary and secondary sources by and about women in the Middle Ages. It is also an excellent resource for exploring other sites pertaining to Medieval women.

  • Male Gender and Sexuality in the Works of Geoffery Chaucer

    --This site explores the construction of masculinity as well as medieval notions of male sexuality in the writings of Geoffery Chaucer.

  • Becoming Male in the Middle Ages

  • The Labyrinth

    --This is Georgetown's comprehensive Medieval page

  • Cultural Frictions Conference Papers '95

    --A collection of papers presented at this conference of "medieval studies in post modern contexts"

  • The Medieval Sourcebook

    --A large collection of documents relating to the Middle Ages

• Images of Sexuality in the Middle Ages

  • Torture of Hugh Despenser -- Image of the torture of Hugh Despenser, lover of Edward II, from The Bibliotheque Nationale de France. (click on the picture to see enlarged version)
  • The Rule of Bacchus, The Fall of Man, The Rule of Mars" -- Image of the different stages of humanity as interpreted by Albrecht Altdorfer, from The National Gallery of Art. Bacchus was commonly associated with same-sex couples in the Middle Ages.

    Couple in Bed, from Bibliotheque de l'Arsenal

    • Bibliography

    • Boswell, John. Christianity, Social Tolerance, and Homosexuality: Gay People in Western Europe from the Beginning of the Christian Era to the Fourteenth Century. Chicago: Univeristy of Chicago Press, 1980.
    • Foucault, Michael.History of Sexuality, Volume I. Harmondsworth: Pelican, 1981.
    • Halperin, David. One Hundred Years of Homosexuality: and other essays on Greek Love New York: Routeledge, 1990
    • Karras, Ruth.Common Women: Prostitution and Sexuality in Medieval England. New York: Oxford University Press, 1996.
    • Otis, Leah LydiaProstitution in Medieval Society: the history of an urban institution in Languedoc Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1985.
    • Matter, Ann, "My Sister, My Spouse: Woman-Identified Women in Medieval Christianity," in Weaving the Vision: New Patterns of in Feminist Spirituality eds. Judith Plaskow and Carol Christ. San Francisco: Harper & Row, 1989.
    • Romantic Review Special issue: The Production of Knowledge: Institutionalizing Sex, Gender, and Sexuality in Mediecal Discourse. ed. Kathryn Gravdal. Vol. 86, 2 (March 1995).
    • Western Sexuality: practice and precept in past and present times eds. Philippe Aries and Andre Bejin, trans. Anthony Forster. Oxford: B.Blackwell, 1985.
  Two pictures displaying couples at the baths.

  --This page designed and written by Amanda Berg, Jennifer Hart, and Jessica Sloman