Document Type
Article
Peer Reviewed
1
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Abstract
The thirteenth-century hagiography of Yvette of Huy (1158-1228), presents a complex narrative intertwining themes of sexuality, resistance, and advocacy within the religious landscape of the Low Countries. This paper explores the portrayal of Yvette as a protective figure against instances of sexual non-consent, particularly focusing on incidents perpetrated by clerics against lay women in her community. Her biographer and Premonstratensian canon, Hugh of Floreffe's vita depicts Yvette's prophetic abilities in uncovering hidden sins, emphasizing her role as an intercessor for women subjected to predatory behavior. Analyzing the textual and historical context, this study situates Yvette’s vita within the broader tradition of female hagiographies in the Low Countries, noting its unique focus on clerical abuses and feminine resistance. Through three pivotal episodes from Yvette’s life, this article will examine the distinctive focus on clerical abuses and female resilience. As well as how Hugh frames these narratives as both opportunities for miraculous intervention and stories of grace and redemption. Finally, it will discuss Hugh’s deliberate narrative strategies, suggesting his vita was crafted to educate a male ecclesiastical audience about sexual misconduct, rather than simply condemn it.
Acknowledgements
I am eternally grateful for the love and support of my family and friends, who have also learned to love Yvette of Huy (I hope) from listening to my excited rants and kindly proofreading my papers. I learned about Yvette during an undergraduate class at Vassar College taught by Professor Nancy Bisaha. She and Professor Marc Epstein helped me mold many of my early ideas, ideas that were further refined by my advisors at Oxford University, Almut Suerbaum and Margaret Coombe. Finally, I would like to thank Alice Raw for her revision of this paper. Without her it would have remained unfinished. I would also like to thank the reviewer for their comments, which were central to development of this article.
Keywords
Yvette of Huy, hagiography, medieval women, clergy misconduct, sexual abuse, rape, resistance, Gender dynamics, religious communities
Recommended Citation
Atlas, Lestra "“And She Learned from Experience”: Sexual Deception and Communities of Protection in the "Life of Yvette of Huy"." Medieval Feminist Forum: A Journal of Gender and Sexuality 61, No. 1 (2026)
