Clothes Make the Man

This book explores medieval society's fascination with the cross-dressed woman and examines a wide variety of sources which record attempts to overcome gender hierarchy and illustrate a desire to re-examine social gender identities.

Zusatztext "...a good research tool...worth reading." -- American Historical Review"Valerie Hotchkiss very effectively synthesizes a large body of diverse medieval texts about female cross-dressing...Hotchkiss has made however a vital contribution to cultural analysis of gender in the Middle Ages." -- Arthuriana"Makes excellent outside reading for advanced undergraduates. This book can instruct and interest readers of all levels." -- The Medieval Review"This is an important and interesting book! which is written in a clear and accessible style! making it useful not only for the specialist but also for upper level undergraduate and post graduate students who wish to receive an introduction to the complexities of medieval gender roles." -- Parergon Zusammenfassung In this book! the author explores medieval society's fascination with the cross-dressed woman. The author examines a wide variety of religious! literary! and historical sources! which record interpretations of sartorial attempts to overcome gender hierarchy and also illustrate! mainly through the device of inversion! a remarkably sustained desire to examine and reexamine the nature of social gender identities.

Autorentext

Hotchkiss, Valerie R.

Klappentext

This book explores medieval society's fascination with the cross-dressed woman and examines a wide variety of sources which record attempts to overcome gender hierarchy and illustrate a desire to re-examine social gender identities.

Inhalt
Introduction Female Men of God: Cross Dressing in Medieval Hagiography Lives and Death of Hildegund Von Schsnau Transvestism on Trial: The Case of Jeanne D'Arc Female Pope and the Sin of Male Disguise Disguised Wife Gender Inversion and Gender COnformity Cross Dressing and Sexuality Conclusions Hagiographic Appendix: The Lives of the Transvestite Saints Notes Bibliography * Index