Sex and Gender in Historical Perspective

Sex and Gender in Historical Perspective by Edward Muir

How we did the "fallen" women of Bologna regain their lost honor as wives or nuns? Why did the church need to control the "quasi-magical" power of female fertility? What did working women do to transform the factory environment-- as well as their social identity? In the microstoria of Italian scholars, good stories make even better history. "Sex and Gender in Historical Perspective"-- the inaugural volume of Selections from Quaderni Storici-- looks at sexual mores and gender roles in European social history of popular culture, these scholars present a broad and highly original view of human history. Taking a microhistorical approach, they explore topics including witchcraft and sexual intercourse, folk explanations of "monstrous" births, the reception of syphilis in Europe, sexual honor, female roles in Christian spiritual practices, and women in "men's jobs". Without losing sight of larger historical themes or societal structures, the authors offer a refreshingly particular and subtle view of everyday people, their hopes and visions, and their words. Drawing from archives and manuscripts that have received little attention until now, "Sex and Gender in Historical Perspective" illuminates the cultural and political forces that shaped gender perception and sexuality over the centuries and offers an engaging and powerful challenge to current assumptions.

These superb new translations offer new perspectives on women's history to English-language readers and, as Guido Ruggiero notes in the Introduction, effectively promote the use of gender as a category of analysis-- Jeffrey R. Watt Sixteenth Century Journal These superb new translations offer new perspectives on women's history to English-language readers and, as Guido Ruggiero notes in the Introduction, effectively promote the use of gender as a category of analysis. -- Jeffrey R. Watt The Sixteenth Century Journal

Edward Muir is the Ver Steeg Professor of History at Northwestern University. He is the editor, with Guido Ruggiero, of Sex and Gender in Historical Perspective and Microhistory and the Lost Peoples of Europe.

SKU	Unavailable
ISBN 13	9780801840722
ISBN 10	0801840724
Title	Sex and Gender in Historical Perspective
Author	Edward Muir
Series	Selections From Quaderni Storici
Condition	Unavailable
Binding Type	Paperback
Publisher	Johns Hopkins University Press
Year published	1990-10-27
Number of pages	264
Cover note	Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.