When I began studying Puritan women, I felt overwhelmed. There was something different happening in the primary and secondary texts than what I was used to, even after years of studying and writing papers about church history. Unfortunately, I hadn’t gleaned some of the information needed to analyze these issues from my previous classes, probably because it is the kind of thing that is mentioned by professors in passing or taught through example and is highly influenced by their areas of expertise. Yet, after making many mistakes, I finally began to understand the shape of historical studies on women and found that other students were coming across the same questions I had to work through. This led me to create a list of guiding principles for those writing their first paper on a woman in church history. They aren’t much different than what one would use to study men in church history but can sometimes get crushed beneath the weight of current controversies about women’s issues. Regardless of what side you take in these debates, I hope the following principles will help you write a good history paper.
STUDYING WOMEN IN CHURCH HISTORY IS A GOOD IDEA
There are complex conversations going on about the representation of women, if it should be pursed, and if so, how. Yet, when it comes to doing history—study of the past—there are really no reasons to not study women. If you can demonstrate that your topic contributes to our understanding of world cultures, significant events, or basically anything related to human life, then no idea is off limits. In fact, it is often women who have been studied less, which makes them ideal candidates for new research.
From my experience, it takes more time and effort to write about women because there are fewer primary and secondary sources and they can be difficult to acquire. However, I would encourage you to not let this dissuade you from writing on women unless you truly cannot do justice to the topic because of a lack of access to materials.
ask yourself: “can I get access to the main sources I would need for this project? who will do this research if I don’t, and would it make a difference?”
RECOGNIZE YOUR BIASES AND SYMPATHIZE WITH YOUR SUBJECT
When beginning a study, recognize your personal experiences and convictions as a researcher, be careful to note when these may tempt you to skew information, and avoid the inner pull to make your subject say what you want her to say. This is especially important if you have had negative experiences that may be related to your paper topic. If you already know that you do not agree with your subject on a certain issue, tell yourself that you do not need to redeem the woman you are studying or her text, but simply read her on her own terms and allow her to speak for herself.
However, this does not mean you must attempt to rid yourself of your biases. In fact, this is impossible. Rather, use your biases to sympathize with your subject—just as you have had formative life experiences and hold firmly to certain convictions, so does she. While there is no need to feel pressured to agree with the subject you are studying, you must make a concerted effort to understand who they were, what they did and said, and why, just as you would want someone to do for you. You may even be surprised to find that you can resonate with and even learn from women of the past, and while some may tell you to ignore their antiquated ideas, I say take them to heart and allow that passion to drive your work. Just remember that even though it is fine to identify with them, it is not necessary (and probably unfavourable) to include those reflections in your paper.
ask yourself: “what personal experiences and convictions do I have that may relate to my paper topic? have I made this paper about my subject(s) and her/their context, or me and my context?”
USE SPECIFIC PROOF FROM THE TEXT
Always use specific proof from primary texts to support the main points of your argument. If you cannot do this easily, your interpretation is on shaky ground. Though reading between the lines may be done well by bringing research from secondary sources to bear on the primary text you are studying in order to more fully understand it, this should not be done in a way that misrepresents or contradicts the text. Overall, there is nothing to de-mystify about women in history; they do not need to be psychoanalyzed and there is no hidden meaning waiting to be found in their writings. For an example of a study on Agnes Beaumont that I believe lost sight of this principle and my evaluation of this study, click here.
ask yourself: “if someone read the primary sources I’ve used, and then read my paper, would my paper ring true to them?”
LEARN ABOUT RELEVANT CONTEXTUAL ISSUES
In addition to using specific proof from primary sources to support your main points, you also need to use secondary sources to help you interpret the text. It is important to be aware of things like gender roles, power structures, cultural norms, and other contextual issues in the period of your study, especially if these are vastly different than your own. This is a good time to remember that even if you admire or identify with your subject, your context is vastly different from hers.
ask yourself: “what are the most important contextual factors (related to my specific paper topic) that I need to research in order to appreciate my subject(s)’s historical context?”
REMEMBER THAT NOT EVERYTHING IS ABOUT GENDER
While it is important to inform yourself about contextual issues related to women in the period of your study, it is unwise to make gender the beginning and end of every issue. There are just as many themes in women’s literature as there are in men’s, and making the former only speak about gender is reductive.
ask yourself: “have I given gender a proper place in this paper, or have I let it take over?”
ALLOW TENSIONS TO EXIST
As you study women from the past, you may find times they push against oppressive gender norms and times they support them. Rather than attempting to reconcile their seemingly or actually contradictory ideas, allow them to stand in tension. It may be helpful to ask why they opposed some norms but not others. Of course, it is possible they are not contradictory, but either way, it is important to allow them to make their own distinctions rather than force yours onto them.
ask yourself: “have I twisted certain passages to make them fit with others that seem to say the opposite, or have I let them stand as they are?”
MAKE ROOM FOR UNIQUE ASPECTS OF YOUR SUBJECT(S)’S LIFE AND WORK
Recognize the differences between individual women rather than portraying them as if they had the same personalities, writing style or purpose, work in the world, or life experiences, whether they are within the same period or not.
ask yourself: “have I made room for the unique aspects of this woman’s life and work?”
Wherever you are in the writing process, I’d encourage you to share your experiences with the professors and students around you in order to spur on more conversation about how to write well about women in church history, and why it is important.