Clothes Make the Man: Female Cross Dressing in Medieval Europe

by Valerie R. Hotchkiss

Overview

In this book, the author explores medieval society's fascination with the cross-dressed woman. The author examines a wide variety of religious, literary, and historical sources, which record interpretations of sartorial attempts to overcome gender hierarchy and also illustrate, mainly through the device of inversion, a remarkably sustained desire to examine and reexamine the nature of social gender identities.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780815337713
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	11/01/1999
Series:	New Middle Ages
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	214
Product dimensions:	5.44(w) x 8.50(h) x (d)

Table of Contents

Introduction * Female Men of God: Cross Dressing in Medieval Hagiography * Lives and Death of Hildegund Von Schsnau * Transvestism on Trial: The Case of Jeanne D'Arc * Female Pope and the Sin of Male Disguise * Disguised Wife Gender Inversion and Gender COnformity * Cross Dressing and Sexuality * Conclusions * Hagiographic Appendix: The Lives of the Transvestite Saints * Notes * Bibliography * Index

Editorial Reviews

"...a good research tool...worth reading." -- American Historical Review
"Valerie Hotchkiss very effectively synthesizes a large body of diverse medieval texts about female cross-dressing...Hotchkiss has made however a vital contribution to cultural analysis of gender in the Middle Ages." -- Arthuriana
"Makes excellent outside reading for advanced undergraduates. This book can instruct and interest readers of all levels." -- The Medieval Review
"This is an important and interesting book, which is written in a clear and accessible style, making it useful not only for the specialist but also for upper level undergraduate and post graduate students who wish to receive an introduction to the complexities of medieval gender roles." -- Parergon

From the Publisher

Explores medieval society's fascination with the cross-dressed woman, examining religious, literary, and historical sources describing attempts by women to overcome gender hierarchy. Looks at fictional and historic cross-dressing women in medieval culture, discussing subjects such as the symbolism underlying the popular lives of transvestite saints, the legend of the female pope, and the phenomenon of the abandoned wife in male disguise. Upcoming titles in the series include Medieval Mothering and Fresh Verdicts on Joan of Arc. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

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