Quotes from Katharina M. Wilson

For medieval women as well as men literary productivity goes hand in hand with the opportunity for education, at least a modicum of scholarly idleness, access to materials needed for work, some financial independence, patronage in social, religious, or financial form (...) With women writers, an added prerequisite often entails the freedom from repeated pregnancies and childbearing. [Introduction]

Christianity did introduce (...) a religious ideal, that of chastity (...). Thus a life of virginal consecration became open to women (through which they could become men's equals), providing a respected career opportunity for [nuns], single women and widows whose aspirations were not exhausted by or directed toward the role of mother or wife. [Introduction]