A solution to marital problems in the modern age: kidnapping women
18/02/2025
Mariela Fargas Peñarrocha
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Lecturer at the University of Barcelona
Mariela Fargas Peñarrocha
Lecturer at the University of Barcelona
In the modern European age — from the 16th to the 18th century — the patriarchal family was consolidated — all decisions were subordinated to the authority of the males. In this context, arranging marriages for women was a very important social and patrimonial strategy for the family group, for the lineage, for the community. The final say in the matter was generally left to the men.
And what happened with disagreements about marriage? There was then a practice whereby a solution was sought: kidnapping a woman. This consisted of leaving her and locking her up for a period of time in a certain place: a convent of nuns, the residence of a well-known widow, or even a hospice or house of mercy. The distinctions between places were determined by social class.
This text is a translation taken from the article that was originally published on The Conversation.
This text is a translation taken from the article that was originally published on The Conversation.