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It's difficult to properly describe someone from the past as 'transgender' or any other modern term or to truly know how they may have viewed themselves in terms of how we understand gender today. Never the less, there are individuals who are fascinating stand outs in their own time and worth learning about.
This is a sex worker and embroiderer is known only by a single court record. Eleanor Rykener was arrested for prostitution in London in December, 1394 and the court record of their interrogation spins a fascinating detailed account of their life as a sex worker and embroiderer. There is no record of charges or punishment, other than the interrogation, many of the details of Rykener's life will remain forever shrouded in antiquity.
Although the story raises compelling questions that can not be answered, it hints at a lot more than questions of gender. I find it fascinating for what it suggests about the state of church/state relationship coupled with the more underground aspects of London in the years following the crisis of the late middle ages.
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R+C
Not without much struggle..
Thankfully life is evolving and accepting..
One can only hope.
Although, interesting enough, prostitution was legal at the time, and I gather they didn't quite know what to make of Eleanor and released her.
by Cranky Old Witch; ; Report
Jon 🐇
Pretty wild stuff, but also, people are just gonna be people :)
People gotta eat, no?
by Cranky Old Witch; ; Report
true dat :)
by Jon 🐇; ; Report