engleski

Education of Girls in Dubrovnik Nunneries during the eighteenth century

Even though cases of breaching conventual discipline were recorded in earlier history of female monasticism in Dubrovnik, they are not found in the period of 18th century. This can be related to the dissemination of the ideas of Enlightenment by which the importance of women and their status in society started to be perceived differently. Although these changes occurred quite slowly, they affected conventual life. The opinion of mental and physical superiority of men over woman started changing. The number of girls entering nunneries under the pressure of their family decreased. Education of woman gradually rose in all social classes, especially among nobility and the upper Bourgeoisie. The young women of Dubrovnik went to schools and convents to get an education. Usually they went to Italy, but starting with the thirties of the 18th century the first cases of girls going to nunneries for an education were also recorded in Dubrovnik. Although there are only 19 such cases recorded, this still points to the changes that started occurring related to the status of women. Very early on girls started adapting to conventual life which was determined by the conditions every girl had to meet. Apart from entering the convent for educational reasons, this practice of going to the convent at a very early age could affect their later choice of a spiritual life. A comparison of data on girls who stayed at the convent to get an education and the data on girls who took their vows confirms that.

Dubrovnik, Education, Nunnery

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