Abstract
This chapter examines the presence of women in masonic life by focusing on the so-called “adoption lodges,” periodical gatherings in which brethren invited their spouses or female kin to participate in the ritual life of Freemasonry. It begins by charting the history and contours of mixed-gender Freemasonry in Enlightenment France and goes on to discuss the proliferation of adoption lodges throughout the kingdom, the socioeconomic profile of membership, and typical lodge activities. It then considers the range of possible motivations for why men would choose to integrate women into Masonry, shedding further light on gender relations within the fraternity and the underpinnings of male friendship within this particular institutional milieu. It shows that women were introduced into Masonry via the adoption format mainly to defend Freemasons against accusations of sodomy that were frequently leveled against them by the wider French public. It argues that the introduction of female relatives into the lodge defused any potentially erotic component associated with male friendship.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
