Empress and Handmaid

This is the story of the cult of the Virgin Mary. For centuries, Mary has been venerated, and her virginity and humility promoted as an example to Christian women. In some theological circles, the cult of the Virgin has been blamed for supporting the cause of social and political oppression. In this history, the author throws light on both theories. In western Europe, she argues that the Virgin's significance - in terms of attitudes to womanhood and motherhood - has been closely bound up with economic and social factors.