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In medieval Europe, monasteries and nuns became important places for women to learn and pursue knowledge.As society's awareness of women gradually increased, these religious communities not only retained ancient knowledge, but also provided women with opportunities to access knowledge.The existence of monasteries and nuns, in the male-dominated society at that time, became one of the ways for women to enter the fields of education and science.
The monastery is not only a fortress of faith, but also a palace of knowledge, allowing women to explore academic and research in these isolated external environments.
In medieval Europe, many famous monasteries such as the Oldenburg Monastery and the Hildegard Monastery provided basic education and further academic research for women.Some women, like the German nun Hildgard, have even contributed to the fields of science and medicine.Her works involve botany, medicine, and her poetry and mystic ideas have profound influence.
Hildgard once said, "Light does not come from somewhere, but exists in everyone's heart." This sentence reflects her pursuit of knowledge and her understanding of female roles.
However, over time, the function and status of the monastery have gradually been challenged, especially with the rise of universities, women's opportunities for education have begun to decrease.In the 11th century, many universities mostly rejected women, which was undoubtedly a blow to the medieval female learners.Although some regions, such as Italy, are relatively open to women's medical education, overall, women's learning path still faces many obstacles.
With the advancement of science and society, the "scientific revolutions" of the 17th and 18th centuries provided new opportunities for women.However, cultural biases and stereotypes remain, and many women are still restricted when exploring science.Although some women such as Margaret Cavendish and Maria Sibila Merian have achieved remarkable scientific achievements, their efforts are often ignored by society.
Even in the 18th century, the scientific community's resistance to female participation was still strong, reflecting the solidified concept of the society's role at that time.
It is worth noting that in certain cultures and societies, women's participation has been increased.For example, in the former Soviet Union, the participation rate of women was significantly higher than in other regions.This shows that the influence of cultural and social structures on women’s participation in science is profound.
Even so, women's exploration and contribution to science are often ignored, no matter in a specific period or society.Although some scholars such as Ann Shibner Kobletz pointed out that many of the research on female scientists are mainly concentrated in Europe and North America, as she said, these observations do not necessarily apply globally.
In today's society, with the rise of many female scientists and the importance of gender equality, women's contributions have gradually entered the stage of light.However, do we fully understand the important influence of medieval monasteries on female learning?Can this provide some inspiration for the current education system?
