The practice or religious ideology of self-flagellation as a means of spiritual purification or atonement.
From 'flagellant' plus the suffix '-ism' indicating a system of beliefs; emerged as organized religious practice in medieval Europe, particularly during the 13th-15th centuries.
Flagellantism reached its peak during medieval panics about plague and divine punishment, creating mass movements where thousands would parade through towns whipping their bare backs—essentially medieval anxiety disorder made visible.
The codification of flagellant practices into a religious movement reinforced male ecclesiastical authority. Women's ascetic self-harm was medicalized or demonized rather than recognized as spiritual practice equivalent to male flagellantism.
When discussing the movement, include women's parallel ascetic practices and acknowledge that 'flagellantism' as documented was institutionally male-centered.
["ascetic mortification","penitential self-harm"]
Female saints and mystics practiced severe self-mortification—fasting, hair shirts, self-flagellation—but this was often framed as pathology (hysteria, demonic possession) rather than spiritual devotion as male flagellantism was.
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