Marital conflicts in the provincial families’ daily life during the second half of the 19th and early 20th centuries: a gender perspective

Abstract

Background. The article examines the marital conflict in the provincial families focusing on a variety of issues related to beatings and abuse took place in Tver and Yaroslavl Provinces. The discussed issue is relevant and the study of marriage conflicts in historical context can contribute to preventing domestic violence in modern families. Materials and methods. The study is conducted using materials from state archives of the Tver and Yaroslavl regions. The authors employ a range of historical and general scientific methods, including those used to study the history of daily life, as well as the set of approaches of women's and gender history. Results. The authors studied the types of domestic violence as well as the all-Russian statistics on punishments for such crimes. The main causes of abuse and the ability of the wives to protect themselves from the arbitrariness of husbands have been identified. Conclusions. Domestic violence was not uncommon. For most of the period women could not officially separate from their husbands because of abuse. The studied appeals of victims to various judicial authorities showed an increase in women's self-awareness and emancipation of women in general. However, despite the fact that abusive husbands could receive serious prison sentences and even be sent to hard labor for their crimes, they more often received minor punishments, and their wives had to put up with abuse.

Keywords

• marital conflicts
• family
• gender
• daily life
• beating
• abuse
• rural provinces