Daily Life: Women in Tirenia
The Renaissance was an enlightened time in many ways. Its attitude towards women is not one of them. Female infanticide existed, and girls had very limited opportunities for education. As adults, women were expected to marry, become servants, or to become nuns - regardless of their personal wishes. In fact, women being forced to become nuns because their fathers could not or would not pay their dowries was regarded as a serious problem, leading to the creation of a public dowry fund in Florence and elsewhere. Otherwise, prostitution was widespread, often as a career of last resort.
Women have a better experience in Tirenia than their historical counterparts would have had in Italy. While broad gender roles are still in place, Tirenia is more accepting of women. La Salvatrice, the founder of the church, was a woman after all! Men and women are considered equally important by the vast majority of people. Women can become soldiers, scholars, artists, artisans, magicians, priests, or any other role that is open to men.
Some people may want to have a more historically accurate Tirenia. Even so, there are a wide range of women from the time period who show that exceptional individuals could do whatever they wanted. St. Jeanne d'Arc was leading armies, Caterina Sforza was leading cities, Isabella d'Este was a patron of the arts, and St. Angela Merici founded a religious order. Sofonisba Anguissola was a widely admired artist, and female craftswomen were widespread. There were female academics like Christine de Pizan and criminals like Moll Cutpurse. And there are many, many more examples of female excellence. Historical accuracy should never be treated as an excuse for misogyny.
Women have a better experience in Tirenia than their historical counterparts would have had in Italy. While broad gender roles are still in place, Tirenia is more accepting of women. La Salvatrice, the founder of the church, was a woman after all! Men and women are considered equally important by the vast majority of people. Women can become soldiers, scholars, artists, artisans, magicians, priests, or any other role that is open to men.
Some people may want to have a more historically accurate Tirenia. Even so, there are a wide range of women from the time period who show that exceptional individuals could do whatever they wanted. St. Jeanne d'Arc was leading armies, Caterina Sforza was leading cities, Isabella d'Este was a patron of the arts, and St. Angela Merici founded a religious order. Sofonisba Anguissola was a widely admired artist, and female craftswomen were widespread. There were female academics like Christine de Pizan and criminals like Moll Cutpurse. And there are many, many more examples of female excellence. Historical accuracy should never be treated as an excuse for misogyny.
Art: 'The Chess Game.' Sofonisba Anguissola, 1555.
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