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During the Italian Renaissance men were defined by the position they served in society. Merchants, noblemen, bankers, carpenters, doctors, politicians, clergymen, travellers, these titles all explained men's role as active participant in society. With rare exception, women were defined primarily by the role they played as sexual beings, therefore, women were wives, mothers, midwives, prostitutes, courtesans, widows, nuns, or virgins, never were they cooks, weavers, artists, writers, or teachers. It is for this reason that to understand the history of women in the Renaissance we must talk about sex and sexuality.
We will explore the life of women in Renaissance Italy though readings of manuals for young couples, analysis of the representation of women and sexuality in art and literature, and visits to museums and local sites of interest to this course. The lives of exceptional women that may be considered active protagonists, such as Veronica Franco, Isabella D'Este, Vittoria Colonna, and Gaspara Stampa will be explored through readings of poetry, literature, primary and secondary sources, and films. In conclusion we will ask to what extent can we speak of a Renaissance for women. We will see that for the majority of women the Renaissance was not a time of great change and rebirth.
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