Citation

Young KZ. Gender Soc. 1989; 3(4): 474-482.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1989, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/089124389003004005

PMID

unavailable

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.