Men were created before women. But that doesn't prove their superiority ā rather, it proves ours, for they were born out of the lifeless earth in order that we could be born out of living flesh. And what's so important about this priority in creation, anyway? When we are building, we lay foundations on the ground first, things of no intrinsic merit or beauty, before subsequently raising up sumptuous buildings and ornate palaces. Lowly seeds are nourished in the earth, and then later the ravishing blooms appear; lovely roses blossom forth and scented narcissi.
- Moderata Fonte, The Worth of Women: Wherein Is Clearly Revealed Their Nobility and Their Superiority to Men (1600)
Moderata Fonte was the pseudonym of Modesta Pozzo (1555ā92), a Venetian woman who was something of an anomaly. Neither cloistered in a convent nor as liberated from prevailing codes of decorum as a courtesan might be, Pozzo was a respectable, married mother who produced literature in genres that were commonly considered āmasculineā- the chivalric romance and the literary dialogue. Her book, The Worth of Women, which was published in 1600, concerned itself with gender equality and the responsibility of husbands and fathers: issues that loom large today had currency in Renaissance Venice as well.
This work takes the form of the latter, with Fonte creating a conversation among seven Venetian noblewomen. The dialogue explores nearly every aspect of womenās experience in both theoretical and practical terms. These women, who differ in age and experience, take as their broad theme menās curious hostility toward women and possible cures for it. Through this witty and ambitious work, Fonte seeks to elevate womenās status to that of men, arguing that women have the same innate abilities as men and, when similarly educated, prove their equals. Through this dialogue, Fonte provides a picture of the private and public lives of Renaissance women, ruminating on their roles in the home, in society, and in the arts. The book is a fine example of Renaissance vernacular literature, this book is also a testament to the enduring issues that women face, including the attempt to reconcile femininity with ambition but without the shrill tones of a strident feminism more prevalent today. Ā
