at the time isidora lived at the monastery, it is believed about four hundred women lived and worked there, devoting themselves to monastic life. as part of the community at the monastery, isidora remained a type of outsider, known to wander about in the kitchen, focused on doing every type of menial job to be found. she was commonly referred to as "the monastery sponge," referring to the fact that she occupied herself by doing the dirtiest of jobs at the monastery. while it was said that isidora was tonsured when joining the monastery, she stood apart from the other sisters by wearing a rag (most likely a dish towel from the kitchen) on her head. this type of head covering was in sharp contrast to the standard tonsure or cowls worn by the other sisters.