Between 1400 and 1800 marriages based on romantic interest and physical attraction became increasingly popular as a method of securing property and strengthening familial relations and by 1800, affection and desire were considered prerequisite for marriage (Crawford 18-9). Despite the rise of companionate marriage, attraction and companionship were not necessarily the primary functions of marriage in Early Modern Europe. Marriage was a relationship in which both men and women could participate in sex acts without necessarily being labeled deviants. In addition, marriage further encouraged the patriarchal control and dominance of men over women. Perhaps most importantly, marriage was a legal transaction between husband and wife that resulted
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Although Crawford emphasizes companionate marriage, this was not always the case and marriage was an institution that supported the domination of men over women. This is demonstrated by the marrying of young girls in order to insure their virginities remained intact, which was important because “the man who married her could be assured that she was his to educate in all things, including sexually” (Crawford 40). In marriage, a woman’s movements were strictly regulated in order to restrict her behaviors therefore, preventing any opportunity for extramarital affairs to insure the legitimacy of any children that she produced (Crawford 47). Another example of this is the case of Silona Calverie, who suffered abuse at the hands of her violent husband. He deprived her of her property, trapped her in a room for two days, denying her freedom, and deprived her of food; at the time, his actions were considered socially unacceptable (McDonough 39). Suppression of women is also demonstrated by the community’s reluctance to support Silona’s petition for legal separation. During this period, single women were viewed as a potential drain on their resources and sexually unreserved; as such, it was felt that it was in the community’s best interest that Silona remained married to her abusive husband, who would provide for her and keep her sexual tenacity in check (McDonough 47). Consequently, one can infer that
Although Crawford emphasizes companionate marriage, this was not always the case and marriage was an institution that supported the domination of men over women. This is demonstrated by the marrying of young girls in order to insure their virginities remained intact, which was important because “the man who married her could be assured that she was his to educate in all things, including sexually” (Crawford 40). In marriage, a woman’s movements were strictly regulated in order to restrict her behaviors therefore, preventing any opportunity for extramarital affairs to insure the legitimacy of any children that she produced (Crawford 47). Another example of this is the case of Silona Calverie, who suffered abuse at the hands of her violent husband. He deprived her of her property, trapped her in a room for two days, denying her freedom, and deprived her of food; at the time, his actions were considered socially unacceptable (McDonough 39). Suppression of women is also demonstrated by the community’s reluctance to support Silona’s petition for legal separation. During this period, single women were viewed as a potential drain on their resources and sexually unreserved; as such, it was felt that it was in the community’s best interest that Silona remained married to her abusive husband, who would provide for her and keep her sexual tenacity in check (McDonough 47). Consequently, one can infer that