“For the rest, it is enough that I am a woman to make my sails droop…”. A woman in Europe – the feminist revolution of St. Teresa of Àvila Cover Image

È sufficiente il pensiero di essere donna perché mi cadano le ali (V X, 8). Donna in Europa – la rivoluzione femminista di Teresa d’Ávila
“For the rest, it is enough that I am a woman to make my sails droop…”. A woman in Europe – the feminist revolution of St. Teresa of Àvila

Author(s): Cristiana Dobner
Subject(s): Christian Theology and Religion, Gender Studies, Epistemology, 16th Century, Sociology of Religion
Published by: Wydawnictwo Naukowe Uniwersytetu Papieskiego Jana Pawła II w Krakowie
Keywords: Diotima; subculture; maternalité maternity; the epistemological revolution mother tongue;

Summary/Abstract: “For the rest, it is enough that I am a woman to make my sails droop”. This meaningful statement of St. Teresa of Jesus reveals, in an excellent way, the mentality typical for her times. Careful reading of the Teresian texts inspires us however to ask the following question: Have her wings really fallen? What does Teresa really mean about a woman, a carmelite woman? The reformer of the Carmel undertook the efforts of the independent and critical thinking. She started the epistemological revolution, which has been continuing through the ages. Today she is considered by the feminist environment of “Diotima” as an exemplary woman. This article presents assumptions of this environment, refers to the issue of Theresa’s language, tries to track the development of the Teresian subculture and her impact on her epoch.

  • Issue Year: 19/2015
  • Issue No: 2
  • Page Range: 77-98
  • Page Count: 22
  • Language: Italian