Women, Mysticism, and Hysteria in Fin-de-Siecle Spain

In late nineteenth and early twentieth-century Spain, the reinterpretation of female mysticism as hysteria and nymphomania was part of a project to suppress the female emancipation movement. This archival-historical work highlights the phenomenon in medical, social, and literary texts, illustrating that secular doctors and intellectuals employed similar paradigms to those of the early modern Spanish Church. Emilia Pardo Bazán, the only woman author studied, rejected the hysteria diagnosis and promoted mysticism as a path for women's personal development and self-realization.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 244 pages
Publication date: 15 June 2021
Publisher: Vanderbilt University Press

Women, Mysticism, and Hysteria in Fin-de-SiÈcle Spain delves into a captivating analysis that suggests the reinterpretation of female mysticism as hysteria and nymphomania in late nineteenth and early twentieth-century Spain was part of a broader effort to suppress the burgeoning female emancipation movement. This archival-historical work uncovers the phenomenon through a comprehensive examination of medical, social, and literary texts of the time, highlighting the striking similarities between the paradigms employed by secular doctors and intellectuals to condemn female mysticism and those used by the early modern Spanish Church to label it as demonic possession.

Author Jennifer Smith takes modern historians on a thought-provoking journey by directing their attention to the writings of Emilia Pardo Bazán (1851-1921). Pardo Bazán, the sole woman author studied in this work, stands out as a thinker who recognized the subversive potential of mysticism in challenging the patriarchal order. Unlike her male counterparts, she rejected the hysteria diagnosis and embraced mysticism as a transformative path for women's personal development and self-realization.

Through her meticulous research, Smith sheds light on the complex interplay between women, mysticism, and hysteria in Fin-de-SiÈcle Spain. She demonstrates how the medical and intellectual communities of the time sought to control and marginalize women who dared to explore their spiritual depths, often resorting to pathologizing their experiences as hysteria or nymphomania. This suppression served to reinforce gender norms and maintain the patriarchal order, as women who challenged traditional gender roles were perceived as threats to societal stability.

However, Pardo Bazán's writings offer a different perspective. She challenges the notion that mysticism is solely a male domain and highlights its potential for women's empowerment and self-discovery. By embracing mysticism, Pardo Bazán advocated for women's autonomy and self-expression, challenging the patriarchal norms that limited their opportunities and freedoms. Her work serves as a reminder that women have always been agents of change and that their spiritual experiences should be respected and celebrated rather than pathologized or suppressed.

Women, Mysticism, and Hysteria in Fin-de-SiÈcle Spain is a groundbreaking work that sheds new light on the historical relationship between women, mysticism, and hysteria. Through its comprehensive analysis and thoughtful exploration, it challenges the dominant narratives and reveals the subversive potential of female mysticism in challenging patriarchal structures. This book is a valuable contribution to the field of women's history and offers valuable insights into the complex dynamics of gender, spirituality, and power in late nineteenth- and early twentieth-century Spain.

Weight: 426g
Dimension: 151 x 228 x 20 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780826501868