Theological Approaches to Women 1000-1500

This chapter explores theological approaches to women in the period 1000-1500. It builds on the thinking of philosopher Toril Moi. Moi stresses that a focus on lived-experience helps to overcome binaries and concepts of exclusion which can unwittingly reinforce oppression. Through a series of case studies, the chapter draws attention to perceptions of women by women across the period. It views each as a theologian. Moving chronologically, we focus on Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1179) in the early period, Mechthild of Hackeborn (c.1240-1298) and Beatrice of Nazareth (c.1200-1268) in the Central Middle Ages, Julian of Norwich (1342 - after 1416) and Margery Kempe (1373-1438) in Later Middle Ages. The chapter aims to illustrate something of the complexity of theological approaches to women in this period.