"The Imperishable Virginity of Saint Maria Goretti" by Kathleen Z. Young

Selected Works of Kathleen Z. Young

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The Imperishable Virginity of Saint Maria Goretti

Gender & Society (1989)

Kathleen Z. Young, Western Washington University

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Abstract

Many Roman Catholic female saints have been virgin martyrs whose lives exemplify a feminine Christian ideal. This article examines the legend of the modern virgin martyr Maria Goretti, a spiritual template whose sainthood can be said to institutionalize violence by defining women as sexualized beings and potential rape victims. The social and psychological effects of the legend of Goretti are discussed as a form of spiritual and sexual terrorism.

Keywords

Maria Goretti,
Female saints

Disciplines

Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality Studies,
Anthropology and
Sociology

Publication Date

December 1, 1989

DOI

10.1177/089124389003004005

Citation Information

Kathleen Z. Young. "The Imperishable Virginity of Saint Maria Goretti" Gender & Society Vol. 3 Iss. 4 (1989) p. 474 - 482
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/kathleen-young/8/