Joan of Arc: a study in virginal power and female autonomy
Author
Faculty Advisor
Date
2025
Keywords
Joan of Arc, female autonomy
Abstract (summary)
This paper examines the life of Joan of Arc, a visionary and military leader from fifteenth-century France, through contemporary records and later posthumous interpretations by admirers and detractors alike to determine if Joan was able to achieve autonomy in her brief career, and if so, by what methods. Using these resources, it argues that Joan was clearly able to achieve an unprecedented level of political and military autonomy for a common woman in fifteenth-century Europe by using the holy notions of virginity and divine connection that has allowed many mystics and visionaries to ascend beyond their stations throughout history. Furthermore, it considers the gendered notions of clothing that were clearly at play, as many considered Joan to be ‘dressing as a man’ and changing her identity to achieve her goals, an argument that this paper disagrees with based on the evidence.
Publication Information
Jewkes, S. (2025). Joan of Arc: A Study in Virginal Power and Female Autonomy. MacEwan University Student EJournal (MUSe), 9(1). https://doi.org/10.31542/f51g2v03
Notes
Item Type
Student Article
Language
Rights
Attribution-NonCommercial (CC BY-NC)
