Women and Economic Activities in Late Medieval Ghent

Contrary to the widespread view that women exercised economic autonomy only in widowhood, Hutton argues that marital status was not the chief determinant of women's economic activities in the mid-fourteenth century and that women managed their own wealth to a far greater extent than previously recognized. by Shennan Hutton. Cover 1 Title 8 Copyright 9 Contents 10 List of Illustrations 11 Acknowledgments 12 List of Abbreviations 13 Introduction 15 1 The Urban Context 30 2 Activity and Continuity: Patterns of Women’s Economic Participation 48 3 “Her and All Her Property”: Gender and Property Transactions 72 4 Webs of Credit and Circulation of Wealth 93 5 Married Partners and Single Women as Producers and Sellers 114 6 The Changing Fortunes of the Burgher and Patrimonial Constructions 133 Conclusion 153 Notes 164 Select Bibliography 215 Index 235 Front Matter....Pages i-xvi Introduction....Pages 1-15 The Urban Context....Pages 17-34 Activity and Continuity: Patterns of Women’s Economic Participation....Pages 35-58 “Her and All Her Property”: Gender and Property Transactions....Pages 59-79 Webs of Credit and Circulation of Wealth....Pages 81-101 Married Partners and Single Women as Producers and Sellers....Pages 103-121 The Changing Fortunes of the Burgher and Patrimonial Constructions....Pages 123-142 Conclusion....Pages 143-153 Back Matter....Pages 155-240 Women and Economic Activities in Late Medieval Ghent argues that women managed their own wealth to a far greater extent than previously recognized. Women bought, sold, sued, lent money, and contracted debts with little legal or financial oversight of men. Contrary to the widespread view that women exercised economic autonomy only in widowhood, Hutton argues that marital status was not the chief determinant of women's economic activities in the mid-fourteenth century