Gender and Sex in Late Antique Philosophy and Early Christianity

The project examines the definitions of gender in late antique philosophy and early Christianity. It argues that reflecting a little studied debate originating in philosophical circles (notably in Musonius, Antipater of Tarsus etc) on the ability of women to engage with philosophy, early Christian communities and their leaders also revisited the concept of gender and related, traditionally assigned social roles. We argue that early Christians were considerably more open-minded in their perception of gender and sexuality compared to the positions of the later Church, past the fifth century CE.