Our Working Group examines women who live a liminal vocation between the religious and secular spheres. Traditional historiography has accepted the cloistered nun as the archetypal expression of feminine religious devotion. In so doing, it has relegated the numerous women who lived as religious in the world to the margins of historical society. A closer look at sources reveals that these women, who were known as house ascetics, beguines, penitents, bizzoche, and pinzochere (among other names), held a vital and vibrant role in their societies. Our working group brings together scholars working on this topic with the aim of collaborative research that transcends different time periods, regions, and disciplinary lenses. We have come to realize that this subject is global and transcends both temporal and confessional boundaries. In the coming year, we will include women from Reformed Christian traditions in our meetings and look for ways to incorporate non-Christian traditions. We also plan to continue to push geographical boundaries with meetings focused on Latin America and New France. We are increasingly aware of the need for a resource that refines the parameters for discussing various groups of women. We are working toward laying the framework for a new typology of women’s religious life. Beyond our meetings, we will promote new scholarship on this topic through our new Book Series with Brepols. To request to join the group, email the group lead linked in the list.
Leads
- Isabelle Cochelin, A&S Medieval Studies/History
- Alison More, SMC Comper Professorship of Medieval Studies
Faculty Members, University of Toronto
- Mairi Cowan, UTM Historical Studies
- Adam Cohen, A&S Art History
- Siobhan Nelson, Bloomburg Faculty of Nursing
- Liz Smythe, OISE (Emerita)
- David Townsend, English and CSM (Emeritus)
Faculty Members Outside University of Toronto
- Greti Dinkova Bruun, Pontifical Institute of Mediaeval Studies
- Ann Hutchison, Pontifical Institute of Mediaeval Studies
Staff Members, University of Toronto
- Sr. Sonal Castellino, SMC Director of Campus Ministry
- Amanda Pullan, A&S Academic Plan Reviewer (Knox College)
- Francesca Rousselle, Archivist (St Michael’s College)
Graduate Students, University of Toronto
- Rachel Al-Rubai, Study of Religion
- Sarah Carruthers, English
- Julie Cole, History
- Martha Culshaw, Medieval Studies
- Emma Gabe, Medieval Studies
- Carmen Gudino, Medieval Studies
- Meghan Lescault, History
- Laura Moncion, Medieval Studies
- Devon Sherwood, History
- Elliott Wenzel, History
Graduate Students Outside University of Toronto
- Susan McElcheran, Toronto School of Theology
- Sr. Carla Thomas, SMC
Community Members
- Sarah Rudolph, Loretto Sister (Toronto)
- Linda Wicks, Archivist, Sisters of St Joseph (Toronto)