While an unconsummated marriage was subject to annulment, once a woman lost her virginity to her husband, the consummated marriage was permanent. A man was supposed to transform his wife from a virgin to a woman by consummating the marriage, ideally with a pregnancy. Once married, the importance of fidelity directly related to a woman's honor and her acknowledgment of male control of her sexuality. For men however, sexuality and virginity played a much smaller role. In obtaining sainthood, the same standard applied if a woman was not a virgin she was not likely to be considered for sainthood. It was impossible for a woman to lose her virginity and be considered holy, but this standard did not exist for men. The emphasis on virginity existed to a far greater degree for women than it did men. While the social norms were different, medieval relationships were as complicated, personal, and public as are those in our present. The two promised that if they had sex again, then they would get married to make their sex acceptable in the future. This passage first reveals the physical and societal dangers of having sex outside of marriage, where whippings and public shame by holding candles like Scarlet Letters in church and town squares were commonplace. The woman likewise promised that if hereafter she should allow him to know her carnally, she would have him as her husband. The man denied this on oath and immediately after promised on oath that if he should henceforth know her carnally, he would thereafter have her and hold her as his wife. The woman said that the man betrothed her and promised to marry her as his wife. She has three whippings for her confession. She confessed the article and abjured the sin on penalty of six whippings. The woman is pregnant." Ī similar passage speaks of one William Trumpour, who fornicated with Joan de Gyldesum in 1363: Both appear, confess, and are whipped once in the usual way through the market. There are large swaths of secular records that reveal medieval society's disdain for fornication outside of marriage, where "losing ones virginity" was absolutely unacceptable: "John the son of Nicholas the clerk fornicated recidivously with Julia Redes. The medieval values on virginity was a social construction, and memories of virgins was commonplace in popular stories, lyrics, romances, and poems, as well as biblical drama, sermons, and illuminated manuscripts. Single women would allow their hair to fall freely over their bodies signaling that they were available for marriage. Married women would have kept their long hair tied up in braids beneath a head covering of some sort. Medieval women allowed their hair to grow throughout their lives. Women displayed their availability for marriage through their hair, which would have been a great symbol of sexuality in the Middle Ages as it was kept hidden. However, it was not unheard of for young men and women to create relationships for themselves with sexual attraction in mind. Sometimes, marriage between nobles was traditionally based on politics, material wealth, and social status. Sexuality for the medieval woman began before marriage as a young virgin, mainly among elites whose mothers would arrange marriages. Finally, this article will provide information on exceptions to Medieval heterosexual norms, for there is ample evidence of queer sexuality and gender-nonconforming behavior in the European Middle Ages. Afterwards, it will provide context on Canon Law and the beliefs of secular jurisdiction on Medieval female sexuality. It will first focus on the personal aspects of Medieval female sexuality: namely Virginity, Marriage, Medicine, and Rape. This article will confine the scope of its examination to Western Europe, as the term "Middle Ages" often refers to Europe from the 5th to 14th centuries. Sexuality does not only refer to a woman's sexual activity, as sexual lives were as social, cultural, legal, and religious as they were personal. Like a modern woman, a medieval woman's sexuality included many different aspects. Medieval female sexuality is the collection of sexual and sensual characteristics identified in a woman from the Middle Ages. ( Learn how and when to remove this template message) ( May 2023) ( Learn how and when to remove this template message) Use the lead layout guide to ensure the section follows Wikipedia's norms and is inclusive of all essential details. The reason given is: the second paragraph is largely self-referencing and violates MOS:SELFREF. The lead section of this article may need to be rewritten.
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