Woman, Church & State / The Original Exposé of Male Collaboration Against the Female Sex
Matilda Joslyn Gage
Essays
Book language: English
477 pages
"Woman, Church & State" (1893) by Matilda Joslyn Gage is a collection of essays examining the historical subjection of women by church and state. It discusses matriarchy, celibacy, and how religious institutions restricted women's rights. It is worth listening to as an early example of feminist thought and critique of patriarchy.
For teachers and schools: paste the code into your site or blog.
Cover of the original edition (Project Gutenberg, public domain).
Text source: gutenberg.org · The work is in the public domain.
Opening of the book
WOMAN, CHURCH & STATE The Original Exposé of Male Collaboration Against the Female Sex by Matilda Joslyn Gage Original publication date 1893 Contents Preface 5 Chapter One—The Matriarchate
Tendency of Christianity from the first to restrict woman’s liberty. Woman had great freedom under the old civilizations. The Matriarchate; its traces among many nations; it preceded the Patriarchate. The Iroquois or Six
Nations
under
reminiscences
of
the
Matriarchate.
Government of the United States borrowed from the Six
Nations. To the Matriarchate or Mother-rule, is the world indebted for its first conception of “inherent rights,” and a government established on this basis. Malabar under the
Matriarchate when discovered by the Portuguese. The most ancient Aryans under the Matriarchate. Ancient Egypt a reminiscence of the Matriarchal period. Authority of the wife among the most polished nations of antiquity. As
Vestal Virgin in Rome, woman’s authority great both in civil and religious affairs. Monogamy the rule of the
Matriarchate. Polygamy, infanticide and prostitution the rule of the Patriarchate.
7
Chapter Two—Celibacy
Original sin. Woman not regarded as a human being by the church. Marriage looked upon as vile. Celibacy of the clergy; their degrading sensuality. A double Code of
Morals. Celibacy confirmed as a dogma of the church.
Many notable consequences followed. Wives sold as slaves.
Women driven to suicide. Influence of the church
unfavorable to virtue. Women of wealth drawn into
monastic life. The church in Mexico. President Diaz.
Readnara
