Woman, Church, and State

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

—

Title

Woman, Church, and State

Language

en

Book source

Global Grey

Description max 80 words

Matilda Joslyn Gage delivers a forceful critique of how organized religion and legal systems have historically oppressed women. Drawing on historical evidence from ancient civilizations, Gage argues that the subjugation of women is a man-made construct rather than divine will, exposing the hypocrisy of institutions that claim moral authority while enforcing gender inequality.

Summary up to 500 words

In 'Woman, Church, and State,' Matilda Joslyn Gage presents a rigorous historical critique dismantling the 19th-century assertion that Christianity and the State are responsible for women's inferior status. Through extensive research, Gage traces societal evolution from the 'Matriarchate,' an early era where women held supreme authority in family, state, and religious life. She argues that the decline of this matriarchal order coincided with the rise of patriarchal religions and laws that systematically stripped women of rights, property, and autonomy. Gage contrasts the restrictive conditions of Christian Europe with the relative freedoms enjoyed by women in ancient Egypt, Ireland, and among Native American tribes like the Iroquois. In these societies, women retained veto power over war, controlled property, and traced descent through the female line. For instance, in ancient Egypt, descent was traced to the throne in the female line, and in Iroquois society, women possessed absolute control over home property and children. Conversely, Gage details how Canon Law and the legal concept of 'coverture' rendered married women legally non-existent, possessing neither personal nor individual rights. She highlights specific historical injustices, such as the persecution of women labeled as witches and the degradation of women under the Reformation, noting that the Protestant Church offered no greater sanctity than the Roman Catholic Church regarding women's rights. The work examines the deliberate usurpation of women's rights by male-dominated religious and political powers, asserting that the current degradation of women is not a natural state but a result of intentional oppression. Gage challenges readers to reject the dictates of Church and State regarding their own judgment, arguing that true religion and civilization are incompatible with the oppression of half of humanity. The book serves as both a historical corrective, revealing that woman was the founder of civilization, and a call to action for women's suffrage and full civil equality. By exposing the 'obtuse' nature of Church and State, Gage urges women to determine the boundaries of their own sphere and demand justice based on intellect and education rather than tradition.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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Categories

• Religion
• History
• Politics
• Feminism