When reading the article “She Gets Inside Your Head: Joan Of
Arc And Contemporary Women’s Spirituality” by Anne Barstow, it raised several
questions about how Joan was interpreted by women from different societies. What’s
interesting is that these women are using Joan’s story to influence their own
movements. One particular example that I noticed Barstow used was Seneca Falls convention in 1848, by Elizabeth Cady Stanton. She used Joan to illustrate that women should be allowed to be active in the public realm. (Barstow 159). These women often were liberal and active in the public advocating
for women’s rights using Joan as an independent figure
to influence others. Stanton used Joan's mysticism to prove her own point, she quotes," when all human power seemed unavailing, the French no longer despised the supernatural aid of the damsel of Domremy" (Barstow 159). She uses Joan's religion to help convince the audience, she states," the same religious enthusiasm that Joan of Arc to her work nerves us to ours" (Barstow 159). Although Stanton warns her audience that a women's movement would not be easy, but together they can earn the rights that they deserve as women. Similar to Joan that she never gave up on her mission even when it cost her, her life.
Barstow, Anne. "She Gets Inside Your Head: Joan Of Arc And Contemporary Women’s Spirituality." In Coursepacket compiled by Dr. Wolbrink. Fall 2014.
Lucy,
ReplyDeleteGreat post! I think we use Joan in women's movements for a simple reason. People seem to latch onto Joan's self efficient and determined attitude.They look at her and say "Joan did it and so can we." I also thought it was interesting further on in the reading where Barstow mentioned that some women even prayed to Joan or included her in their prayers. I know Joan was canonized by the church, but it seems odd to pray to Joan. Was there anything that you read that you thought was strange?
Christopher Lynn
The way I see why Joan is used in women's movements is because she defied the odds. She went farther than anyone would expect a woman in her time period to. By defying the odds I see that Joan is not limited to being a symbol for the woman's movement but for any movement that is trying to beat the odds or strive for equality.
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