A Gender History of the Reformation: The Case of the Anabaptists

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K01045
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 03040:History of Europe and America-related
• Research Institution: Musashi University
• Principal Investigator: Odori Tomoji 武蔵大学, リベラルアーツアンドサイエンス教育センター, 教授 (20201999)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 宗教改革 / 再洗礼派 / メノナイト / アーミッシュ / ジェンダー史 / スイス / ドイツ / アメリカ

Outline of Final Research Achievements

I conducted a study on the role of women among the Anabaptists (Mennonites and the Amish) who originated in Europe in the early 16th century and migrated to North America after the late 18th century.In the 16th century, Anabaptist women were widely involved in missionary work, prophesying, preaching, managing communal funds as deaconesses, and providing poor relief. Many women also made a mark as brave "martyrs".Various historical sources reveal that, as church structures were established in the 17th and 18th centuries, a male-dominated system emerged. However, the tradition of female deacons persisted among the Mennonites, and there are instances of women playing significant roles in missionary work to remote areas.In the case of the Amish, the right of women to propose candidates for the position of a bishop or a minister is particularly noteworthy.

Free Research Field

西洋史（ヨーロッパ史およびアメリカ史）

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究は欧米世界におけるジェンダーイクオリティの実現の「前史」に関係しており、宗教集団とりわけプロテスタントの一派である再洗礼派が果たした役割を検証するものである。その研究成果は近代的な自由・平等の確立史の一断面（促進要因と阻害要因）を実証的に明らかにしている点で学術的・社会的意義がある。それはとりわけキリスト教の勢力が強いアメリカ合衆国の現状を考察する一助にもなる。