Difference between revisions of "Week 3 Questions/Comments-327 09"
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(→Laws on Slave Descent in VA and MD, 1662, 1664, 1691, 1692) |
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I agree that this document about Abigail Bailey and her husband’s incestuous obsession with their daughter is very disturbing. The status of the “feme covert” along with a general issue of family virtue kept both mother and daughter from successfully stopping the husband’s / father’s infidelity except for through the help of male relatives. This shows that women were doubly controlled (perhaps in equal efficacy) in their actions not only through legal rights but also morality and their ability to uphold family honor facing civic supervision and judgment. -- Elyse Lawrence | I agree that this document about Abigail Bailey and her husband’s incestuous obsession with their daughter is very disturbing. The status of the “feme covert” along with a general issue of family virtue kept both mother and daughter from successfully stopping the husband’s / father’s infidelity except for through the help of male relatives. This shows that women were doubly controlled (perhaps in equal efficacy) in their actions not only through legal rights but also morality and their ability to uphold family honor facing civic supervision and judgment. -- Elyse Lawrence | ||
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| + | This article definitely differed from Esther Burrs diary where she councils her friend on having a happy marriage and being a dutiful servant of God. Esther seems genuinely happy in her marriage and lot in life. I wonder which was closer to the norm in colonial society a situation like hers or a situation like that of Abigails. I was horrified by the authors summary of the story where he noted that Abigail's husband took her on a trip to New York and deserted her there! Obviously he was an all around upstanding husband and father. The story is constantly reiterating the dominance that Mr. B had over both her and her children. WIves and children were taught to obey and honor their parents. The only ammunition that Mrs B seemed to have was that her husband had not upheld his half of the marriage. It is understandable why she apparently did not seek legal action right away. Id imagine that if it came down to her word against his the court would side with the husband. Her husband also sounded like a tyrant so she was probably afraid of the repercussions for herself and her children if she made an unsuccessful attempt at getting him arrested.-Emma Peck | ||
== New Spain’s (New Mexico’s) moral code as dictated by the Spanish Crown in 1752 == | == New Spain’s (New Mexico’s) moral code as dictated by the Spanish Crown in 1752 == | ||
