Only sovereignty or sanctity could lift women above their sex in medieval society.

Evidence

Queens and regents have that rare good fortune: their sovereignty exalts them above their sex … Queens, by divine right, and saints, by their shining virtues, are assured of support in the society that allows them to be men’s equal. Of others, a silent modesty is required. — Simone de Beauvoir, The Second Sex, 219

Categorization

• XREF: Connects to the broader Beauvoir framework of women gaining individual transcendence only through exceptional roles that remove them from the feminine condition — resonates with the Modern Prometheus/exceptional-woman theme in later chapters. — connects to: Marriage was the only available path for a woman to become a free being — Simone de Beauvoir, The Second Sex, 1356; Christianity granted women equality only by denying their flesh — Simone de Beauvoir, The Second Sex, 367; For women, marriage was the only route to social legitimacy — Simone de Beauvoir, The Second Sex, 1096 (+3 more)

Broader Connections

• Christianity granted women equality only by denying their flesh #expands (0.85) — Simone de Beauvoir, The Second Sex, 367
• Marriage was the only available path for a woman to become a free being #qualifies (0.82) — Simone de Beauvoir, The Second Sex, 1356
• For women, marriage was the only route to social legitimacy #qualifies (0.80) — Simone de Beauvoir, The Second Sex, 1096
• Women use divine authority to justify power they cannot claim as persons #expands (0.80) — Simone de Beauvoir, The Second Sex, 1766
• Individual women transcend their condition only when granted masculine possibilities by chance #qualifies (0.78) — Simone de Beauvoir, The Second Sex, 227