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    Laywomen and authority in France during the Great Western Schism, 1378-1417 : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in History at Massey University, Manawatū, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2023-06-10) Barker, Amelia
    The period of the Great Western Schism (1378-1417) was one of great religious and political division in France. This crisis threatened institutional authority, creating opportunities for laywomen to become more influential. Though historians have considered the fascinating imagery produced by female visionaries during this time and the role that noble and religious women played in the Schism, they have not fully considered how laywomen were able to capitalise on the political and ecclesiastical crises of authority to make their voices heard. Starting by exploring the medieval models of sanctity for women, this thesis considers the experiences of three visionary laywomen and how they adapted or adopted certain hagiographical topoi to legitimise their voices as God’s messengers. Marie Robine (d.1399), Constance de Rabastens (d.1386), and Ermine de Reims (d.1396) lived in different areas of France and supported different papacies, yet all experienced life-changing visions influenced by the Schism. The social networks they formed around themselves also impacted the level of influence these women attained. While Marie and Constance attempted to use their visions to influence Schism politics, Ermine tried to hide hers away but was forced into the public eye by her confessor. The experiences of these women reveal more clearly the tensions between gender, authority, and agency for laywomen during a brief but tumultuous period in France’s history. This thesis provides a clear example of how medieval laywomen of non-noble social status were not just silent witnesses of great political and religious turmoil in their communities, but actively engaged and eager to influence those in power.
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    "A drane amonges bees" : a gendered analysis of the Paston family and social identity : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in History at Massey University, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2021) Crawford, Michaela
    This research analyses the Paston men and women through a gendered lens in order to understand how they expressed themselves individually and in the context of their wider social environment. It does this through the analysis of two major gentry life events, marriage and the writing of a will. Marriage was a source of power and control for both men and women in the Paston family. It served as a means to exert authority over others by arranging marriages and it was a way for them to advance themselves both socially and financially within the gentry. This level of authority and control over one’s life depended on factors such as age and status. Like marriage, wills were another avenue through which the Pastons were able to express individuality, control and authority in a system of patriarchy that, in theory, favoured and benefitted first-born sons.
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    Baby-boomer women's stories : gendered from primary school to retirement : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Social Anthropology at Massey University, Albany, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2021) Terry, June E
    Gender inequality has had a major influence on the lives of women throughout history. Along with many western countries, New Zealand women protested for the right of suffrage, battled for decades in law courts to achieve personal autonomy over their own bodies, and played a role in the women’s liberation movement of the 1960s and 1970s. Their aim was to achieve equal rights and greater personal freedoms, however, sometimes their own life experiences tell a different story. My research looks at the lives of a group of New Zealand women born into the baby boom generation, from the time they were part of the education system in the 1950s and 1960s, until the present day in their retirement. I examine their state of dependence within a patriarchal society and how feminism has unconsciously aided their journey through to the time they achieved their version of freedom later in life. The research conducted for this project involved a micro-level qualitative study using informal, semi-structured interviews with a specific group of women born into the generation known as baby boomers. The thesis shows that some areas of women’s lives have not benefitted from the feminist movement. In particular, the power and control that men continue to have over some women in the 21st century remains an under-explored area. The most significant theme to emerge from my analysis is that the participants were unaware that many of the events that took place during their life course were anything other than specific to them. Being part of a generation where problems at home were never discussed, they deserve to have their stories told.
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    Going up north : unmarried mothers and the New Zealand state, 1950-1980 : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in History at Massey University, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2020) Peters, Helen
    New Zealand historians have long been interested in changing attitudes and treatment towards unmarried mothers between the years 1950 to 1980. In the discourse surrounding women’s sexuality and reproductive practices, unmarried mothers were perceived as a grave social threat, undermining the stability of the heteronormative, nuclear family. While the historiography of unmarried mothers’ experiences within institutional “mother and baby homes” is robust, there is less research on women who managed their pregnancies within the community. “Going Up North: Unmarried Mothers and the New Zealand State, 1980 – 1950” seeks to address these gaps by interviewing women who found themselves pregnant and unmarried throughout this time period, and did not reside in an institutional home. Additionally, the provision of state services such as healthcare and financial aid are examined through a feminist lens and used to evaluate changing perceptions and attitudes towards unmarried mothers. Using feminist theory, “Going Up North” locates these changes in the rise of feminist thought, rather than commonly assumed markers such as the instigation of the Domestic Purposes Benefit. By recording the insight and experiences of unmarried mothers within the community during these crucial decades of change, we can enrich our understanding of the current history of reproductive rights in New Zealand which underwrites attitudes towards women, families and reproduction in New Zealand today.