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