Notes

Querelles des Femmes is the debate of the value of women for almost three hundred yeaers. Women joined this debate, growing exhausted of misogynistic views of women. Women were believed to be evil by nature, stereotyped, ignored, etc. They argued that women had rational minds as well, thus can also benefit from masculine education, and most women were ideal, humble modest, faithful, etc. Thus, they should not be subject to male authority. To prove this, women needed to get an education and show they were just as competent to learn as men. Christine de Pizan, a writer and courtier, argued these ideas by stating it is wrong to say that women are not good, and God manifested his virtues in countless women across different backgrounds. She stated that virtuous women were the majority, and cites a myriad of texts including that of the Bible to how women are well mannered, wise, and virtuous. Other women have went further than Pizan and criticized men directly, stating they were the cause of suffering and cruelty. Those who valued their knowledge and education hoped to guarantee the same to other women, and praised learning and development of the female intellect. Anna Maria van Schurman stated "whatever fills the human mind with uncommon and honest delight is fitting for a Christian women" (49).