This talk by Lynne Taylor Gooby will consider this question in relation to one fictional character and three who left a detailed record of their experience and lives: a saint, a sinner and an entrepreneur.

Women have never been short of advice about how they should behave, much of it written by men. In the Middle Ages, the misogynistic writings of the Church Fathers were combined with contemporary texts in an attempt to suppress women’s independence and strengthen male dominance.

However, the Middle Ages, specifically the 13th and 14th centuries, were periods of great social change including the expansion of the merchant class and an increase in female literacy. More affluent townswomen, with time on their hands, presented a challenge to the dominance of the Church and the patriarchy.

Join us to find out if a smart outfit equals moral depravity, if a visit to the pub is an instant route to alcoholism or if a chat with a friend undermines the values of society.