The Preudefemme

Abstract

Less prominent in conduct literature, but not invisible, was the female counterpart of the preudomme, the preudefemme (MHG biderbe wip). She operated in the same way in defining gender expectations within the habitus, though in a different way: she was more defensively crafted for women exposed to public life, where they could not themselves be careerists achieving reputation. Loss of reputation was the gender concern of women. The preudefemme likewise has not been to date used by gender historians, surprisingly in view of the considerable amount of twelfth- and thirteenth-century tracts by men attempting to define her, used here for the first time in most cases.