Week 3 Reflection

Jean Ger

Villa

Making the Mediterranean: Florence Module

27 October 2015

Week 3 Reflection

Being a university student at a fairly liberal campus, criticisms of the patriarchal society is a common dialogue in the classroom as well as over brunch on the weekends. We often attribute the current state of oppression towards women and gender as implications from past histories of institutional and social abuse. More often than not in these spaces, we blame the Western world for bloody histories of colonization and imperialism in the Global South (or the New World with respect to the Native American communities) for instilling many patriarchal and racist notions that may still persevere in those places today. However, after learning about the women in the harem and the courtesans of Venice, I was quite surprised at the amount of power and influence women held in the spaces they occupied because of the aforementioned past notions. Though I know it is a very elementary way to conceptualize women and gender oppression, I often fall victim to homogenizing the Western world in regards to their histories and lived experiences to conform to my understanding of the oppression that still exists today.

In the essay, "Safiye's Household and Venetian Diplomacy," the author explains the neglecting of women in historical Venetian documents. "...history of women was neglected during the nineteenth century. Yet in the history of the Ottoman Empire this subject is really of the greatest importance...high-ranking women enjoyed a degree of political power greater than ever before or after (Pedani, 10). Women of the harem, for example, shared a large portion of power in junction with the authority of men. Foreign ambassadors attempted to establish contacts with the Imperial harem for these reasons. However, they were not allowed to speak directly to the women. Women additionally may have been in service to the sultan, acting as their contacts outside of the harem. Initially after a walking tour conducted while in Istanbul, I had been skeptical on the platform of the harem. We had learned that women were forbidden to speak to outsiders, amongst other things that seemed widely oppressive. In light of recognizing these multiple truths, from both the essay and the walking tour, we must be conscious in realizing that things are truly never black and white; people from different places experience oppression and privilege in a multitude of ways, and it is not our position to demonize or homogenize their experiences.

Venetian courtesans also experienced platforms of societal influence. Courtesans were refined prostitutes, and were the only women who could read, enter a library, discuss with philosophers, and helped the government (Lecture). "They were not like prostitutes as we think of them today and were often quite erudite...The courtesans were admired and respected," (Write, 257). Venetian courtesans were seen as an integral part to a pleasant, rich atmosphere during this time period.  

However, courtesan women were often persecuted for witchcraft. "When the church was no longer accepting of courtesans, some were put on trial for witchcraft,” (Speigal). Like the Venetian courtesans, Safiye was also accused of being in contact with witches and sorcerers in an attempt to control Murad III (13). In my high school women's history class, we learned how the accusation of witchcraft had a disturbing relationship to the fear of the empowerment of women in Medieval history. Though there were obviously fears connected to religion, the persecution of courtesans, though once powerful and productive members of society, was a direct attack on the biologically female identity and the threat of a greater sexual power.

We can assess a perceived threat through sex. The type of women that were persecuted in Venice were courtesans, who were essentially prostitutes. Their conscious choice for sexual freedom may indeed have led to their persecution. Additionally, eunuchs were found to be the only members allowed in some communities in the presence of royalty. "They converted to Islam...and were assigned to the service of prince Selim...When Selim became sultan he invited the two brothers to join his inner household, which they could do only as eunuchs," (Pedani, 14). The lack of a penis essentially shows the lack of a threat, and the ownership of one was a symbol of power.

Though women and the aforementioned eunuchs held higher positions of power within many spaces, they were often still met with oppression. Though not the completely oppressive society that I once envisioned, there seems to be always be an exchange, or sacrifice, for certain liberties. This new investigation of neglected histories showcase that how history is written and who is included is a prime indicator of power relations during that period. The very act of having to reinvestigate histories of women showcases perhaps the ultimate oppression of the past--the neglecting of the very existence of women in power. We cannot attribute their exemption from history to their lack of importance or power if these women were in places of power. We, instead, can attribute these neglected histories to women as perceived threats to power and the desire to eliminate their future empowerment.

References

Spiegal, Jessica. “Secrets of Venice: Venetian Courtesans.” Viator. Viator, 22 August 2014. Web.

27 October 2015.