Women's Healthcare in the Medieval West (Variorum Collected Studies Series)

In this collection of seven major essays (one of them published here for the first time), Monica Green argues that a history of women's healthcare in medieval western Europe has not yet been written because it cannot yet be written - the vast majority of texts relating to women's healthcare have never been edited or studied. Using the insights of women's history and gender studies, Green shows how historians need to peel off the layers of unfounded assumption and stereotype that have characterized the little work that has been done on medieval women's healthcare. Seen in their original contexts, medieval gynecological texts raise questions of women's activity as healthcare providers and recipients, as well as questions of how the sexual division of labor, literacy, and professionalization functioned in the production and use of medical knowledge on the female body. An appendix lists all known medieval gynecological texts in Latin and the western European vernacular languages. Cover 1 Series 3 Half Title 4 Title 6 Copyright 7 Contents 8 Introduction 10 Corrigenda et Addenda 20 Historical Questions And Methodologies 24 I Women's Medical Practice and Health Care in Medieval Europe 24 II Documenting Medieval Women's Medical Practice 64 Identifying The Texts 96 III The De genecia Attributed to Constantine the African 96 IV Obstetrical and Gynecological Texts in Middle English 122 V The Development of the Trotula 158 Exploring The Contexts 244 VI 'Traittié tout de mençonges': The Secrés des dames, 'Trotula,' and Attitudes Towards Women's Medicine in Fourteenth- and Early Fifteenth-Century France 244 VII The Possibilities of Literacy and the Limits of Reading: Women and the Gendering of Medical Literacy 278 Appendix 354 Medieval Gynecological Literature: A Handlist 354 Indices 390 Index of Manuscripts Cited 390 General Index 398 Europe; Gynecology history; History; History,Medieval; Medical care; Medical care Europe History To 1500; Medicine in Literature; Medicine in literature; Medicine,Medieval; Médecine dans la littérature; Médecine médiévale; Obstetrics history; To 1500; Women Health and hygiene; Women Health and hygiene Europe History To 1500; Women's Health Services history Europe,Gynecology history,History,History,Medieval,Medical care,Medical care Europe History To 1500,Medicine in Literature,Medicine in literature,Medicine,Medieval,Médecine dans la littérature,Médecine médiévale,Obstetrics history,To 1500,Women Health and hygiene,Women Health and hygiene Europe History To 1500,Women's Health Services history In this collection of seven major essays (one of them published here for the first time), Monica Green argues that a history of women's healthcare in medieval western Europe has not yet been written because it cannot yet be written - the vast majority of texts relating to women's healthcare have never been edited or studied. Using the insights of women's history and gender studies, Green shows how historians need to peel off the layers of unfounded assumption and stereotype that have characterized the little work that has been done on medieval women's healthcare. Seen in their original contexts, medieval gynecological texts raise questions of women's activity as healthcare providers and recipients, as well as questions of how the sexual division of labor, literacy, and professionalization functioned in the production and use of medical knowledge on the female body. An appendix lists all known medieval gynecological texts in Latin and the western European vernacular languages. Cover 1 Series 3 Half Title 4 Title 6 Copyright 7 Contents 8 Introduction 10 Corrigenda et Addenda 20 Historical Questions And Methodologies 24 I Women's Medical Practice and Health Care in Medieval Europe 24 II Documenting Medieval Women's Medical Practice 64 Identifying The Texts 96 III The De genecia Attributed to Constantine the African 96 IV Obstetrical and Gynecological Texts in Middle English 122 V The Development of the Trotula 158 Exploring The Contexts 244 VI 'Traittié tout de mençonges': The Secrés des dames, 'Trotula,' and Attitudes Towards Women's Medicine in Fourteenth- and Early Fifteenth-Century France 244 VII The Possibilities of Literacy and the Limits of Reading: Women and the Gendering of Medical Literacy 278 Appendix 354 Medieval Gynecological Literature: A Handlist 354 Indices 390 Index of Manuscripts Cited 390 General Index 398 Europe; Gynecology history; History; History,Medieval; Medical care; Medical care Europe History To 1500; Medicine in Literature; Medicine in literature; Medicine,Medieval; Médecine dans la littérature; Médecine médiévale; Obstetrics history; To 1500; Women Health and hygiene; Women Health and hygiene Europe History To 1500; Women's Health Services history Europe,Gynecology history,History,History,Medieval,Medical care,Medical care Europe History To 1500,Medicine in Literature,Medicine in literature,Medicine,Medieval,Médecine dans la littérature,Médecine médiévale,Obstetrics history,To 1500,Women Health and hygiene,Women Health and hygiene Europe History To 1500,Women's Health Services history I. Women's Medical Practice And Health Care In Medieval Europe: Sisters And Workers In The Middle Ages, Ed. J. Bennett Et Al. Chicago, 1989 -- Ii. Documenting Medieval Women's Medical Practice: Practical Medicine From Salerno To The Black Death, Ed. Luis Garcia-ballester Et Al. Cambridge, Uk, 1994 -- Iii. The De Genecia Attributed To Constantine The African: Speculum 62. Cambridge, Ma, 1987 -- Iv. Obstetrical And Gynecological Texts In Middle English: Studies In The Age Of Chaucer 14. New Brunswick, 1992 -- V. The Development Of The Trotula; Revue D'histoire Des Textes 26. Paris, 1996 -- Vi. Traittié Tout De Menc̦onges': The Secrés Des Dames, Trotula, And Attitudes Towards Women's Medicine In Fourteenth- And Early Fifteenth-century France: Christine De Pizan And The Categories Of Difference, Ed. Marilyn Desmond. Minneapolis, 1998 -- Vii. The Possibilities Of Literacy And The Limits Of Reading: Women And The Gendering Of Medical Literacy, First Publication. Monica H. Green. Errata Slip Pasted On 1st Prelim Page. Includes Bibliographical References And Indexes.