The Book of the City of Ladies

The Book of the City of Ladies

This story is trying to redefine what male authors think of women.  The female author Christine starts of expressing her thoughts about the comment, "women makes men live's difficult".  This comment alone is a bad representation for women period.  Christine builds the city of ladies which is a collective group of fenominal women who in the past have done things that according to Christine is what makes a woman a woman.  The three virtues are there to help Christine build the city and give her insight on what to do next.  In the end Christine makes men look bad by telling the city of ladies to be careful not to fall in the trap of the lies of men.

-Kierha Baker


The Book of the City of Ladies is about women being stereotype by society. Christine de Pizan's is not pleased about the reading she have read about women. Christine de Pizian's feels that she have to do something about it. She comes up with an idea that she should build the city of ladies and populate it with women that is known. I think the author intention is to defend women and to provide examples of the unquestionable virtue of her sex. Also the author is trying to prove society wrong about the negative opinions about women. My overview of this story is that women should not be stereotype; because you cannot go around  judging a book by its cover. This story also makes me think do individuals stereotype me or what do men say about me.This story encourage me to be heard more because I am an strong African American women and to stand up for my sex.

-Amine Harris

This story discusses the negative perception of women. The author and narrator, Christine de Pizan reads in a book about the way her society looks at women. The book she reads bashes women and portrays them in a negative light. After reading this, she becomes upset and three goddesses appear to her. They come to her and ask her to build a city with strong, powerful, women. They want her to realize that what society thinks women are is wrong. By building the city, they want to show everyone how strong and important women truly are. This story opened up a topic that is rarely discussed. I think that in some societies women are still thought of negatively. Some base their perception of women by stereotypes. Some think that women are weak, dependent, and in some cases not knowledgeable or intelligent. I do not agree with that. I feel that women are very smart, strong, and can be independent. Not all women should be categorized by this criteria because every woman is different.

-Jeannine Jackson

Christine de Pizan's "The Book of the City of Ladies" explores the stereotypes that society has about women. Christine is frustrated with the reading selections that depict women in a negative manner. She feels compelled to do something about it and contemplates on a dream of building a city that would shine a new and positive light on women in society. This story is unlike any other I have read before. It empowers me to be more influential and to stand up against things I don't agree with. Christine shows courage by trying to create a better image of women and femininity. The goddesses that appear to her also give her empowerment to stand up against society's beliefs. This is a very present and common factor in our society today, and I agree that women should not be stereotyped into these negative characteristics.

-Jennifer Jackson