The Bible as a Source of Women’s Empowerment in the 19th Century. An Overview

Abstract

The 19th century was marked by the awakening of women’s movements. In their struggle for more rights and freedom, women also had to confront the interpretive traditions of the Bible that legitimized a patriarchal society. Since they were denied academic studies, some of them acquired knowledge of the biblical languages themselves. Their engagement with historical-critical exegesis proved particularly fruitful for their empowerment efforts. The article offers a selective overview of the reception of the Bible by women’s rights activists in Europe.