The Image of Women Today
In society today strong parallels can still be seen between how we regard women now and during the 1400’s. With the new united Catholic Church, the great stomping out of religions commenced. This meant that anybody still practising paganism had to be stopped. This should serve as a warning: this is what happens when intolerance takes over society.
Unfortunately for women, being a pagan meant that you were in tune with Mother Earth. The cultivation of medical herbs was par for the course. Using herbs and spices for ailments, to ease birth pains and salve irritations. Traditional role for women would have been to: cook, clean, rear children and animals, as well as tend to any man/woman/child that fell ill. Paying homage to the various god/goddesses to thank for the blessing of a good crop, good stock, or happy marriage would have been acceptable practises in paganism. The Church had enlightened, holy men who could do this (albeit for a fee) so women had to be stopped. The Church was so intent on breaking the control of women they even tarnished the roles of females in the Bible—not to leave anyone out!
Women were regarded as the temptress, the seductress, a direct link to the devil and most of all not to be trusted. A great shame befell women. In some cultures today they are still regarded as second to men. Women are encouraged to cover up, in some countries forbidden to show skin, lest they tempt men. In some countries, women are to walk ten paces behind her husband, brother or father. Women are publicly stoned to death in some parts of the world, unworthy even of dying with dignity.
Women were persecuted for no reason other than living alone, mental illness, cultivation of medicinal herbs or simply because they were falsely accused. What an ultimate act of male dominance! The is a stigma still today that gives the illusion that old people are of no use to society- so they might as well be locked away. We don’t see active, inventive, inspiring seniors. Philosophers from Ancient Greece or Rome were seniors, and they were revered! Society didn’t question seniors; they didn’t think they were deranged and senile. Why do we?
If we don’t learn from our collective past, what is the point of keeping a record? If we don’t change our perspective we are doomed to repeat the same mistakes.
Unfortunately for women, being a pagan meant that you were in tune with Mother Earth. The cultivation of medical herbs was par for the course. Using herbs and spices for ailments, to ease birth pains and salve irritations. Traditional role for women would have been to: cook, clean, rear children and animals, as well as tend to any man/woman/child that fell ill. Paying homage to the various god/goddesses to thank for the blessing of a good crop, good stock, or happy marriage would have been acceptable practises in paganism. The Church had enlightened, holy men who could do this (albeit for a fee) so women had to be stopped. The Church was so intent on breaking the control of women they even tarnished the roles of females in the Bible—not to leave anyone out!
Women were regarded as the temptress, the seductress, a direct link to the devil and most of all not to be trusted. A great shame befell women. In some cultures today they are still regarded as second to men. Women are encouraged to cover up, in some countries forbidden to show skin, lest they tempt men. In some countries, women are to walk ten paces behind her husband, brother or father. Women are publicly stoned to death in some parts of the world, unworthy even of dying with dignity.
Women were persecuted for no reason other than living alone, mental illness, cultivation of medicinal herbs or simply because they were falsely accused. What an ultimate act of male dominance! The is a stigma still today that gives the illusion that old people are of no use to society- so they might as well be locked away. We don’t see active, inventive, inspiring seniors. Philosophers from Ancient Greece or Rome were seniors, and they were revered! Society didn’t question seniors; they didn’t think they were deranged and senile. Why do we?
If we don’t learn from our collective past, what is the point of keeping a record? If we don’t change our perspective we are doomed to repeat the same mistakes.
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