Brain Snacks: Tasty Tidbits of Knowledge
Christine de Pizan's mother didn't want Christine to have an advanced education because she considered it unladylike. It was actually her father who insisted that she get as good an education as she wanted. (Source.)
Christine de Pizan benefited from having supportive men in her life. In addition to her dad, her husband also encouraged her to have a great education. You can't underestimate how rare it would have been for men to be this progressive back in 1400. (Source.)
Christine got married when she was only 15 years old and became a widow when her husband died (probably from the bubonic plague). That just makes it all the more impressive that she managed to educate herself so well. (Source.)