WOMEN’S STRUGGLE FOR EXİSTENCE İN WOMEN’S MONASTERİES İN MEDİEVAL EUROPE

Abstract

Monasteries were multifunctional structures in medieval Europe, serving multiple functions. The term "monastery," meaning alone, garnered considerable attention due to its diverse roles. During that era, parents often entrusted their children to monasteries for education. The predominance of men in monasteries exerted significant pressure, particularly on the few women's monasteries. This pressure caused women to create a new system and even create a new order for themselves However, when we evaluate the monasteries in general, we come across two different windows as monastic life from the eyes of men and women. At this point, women's monasticism or women's monasteries begin to draw attention and we encounter a system that is different from the eyes of women. Women's monasteries could be seen as pivotal in the nascent women's movements of the time. Women entered monasteries not solely for education but also to explore their inner worlds or seek refuge from the outside world. This created a system where monastic life was largely dominated by men, reinforcing beliefs that women could not achieve independently. This study aims to clarify the perspective of women's monasticism during the Middle Ages and their role within monasteries.

Keywords: Medieval; Monastery; Europe; Women; Women's Monasteries.