Runaway Daughters : Seduction, Elopement, and Honor in Nineteenth-Century Mexico

Against The Backdrop Of Nineteenth-century Oaxaca City, Kathryn Sloan Analyzes Rapto Trials--cases Of Abduction And/or Seduction Of A Minor--to Gain Insight Beyond The Actual Crime And Into The Reality That Testimonies By Parents, Their Children, And Witnesses Reveal About Courtship Practices, Generational Conflict, The Negotiation Of Honor, And The Relationship Between The State And Its Working-class Citizens In Post Colonial Mexico. Unlike The Colonial Era Where Paternal Rule Was Absolute, Sloan Found That The State Began To Usurp Parental Authority In The Home With The Introduction Of Liberal Reform Laws. As These Laws Began To Shape The Terms Of Civil Marriage, The Courtroom Played A More Significant Role In The Resolution Of Familial Power Struggles And The Restoration Of Family Honor In Rapto Cases. Youths Could Now Exert A Measure Of Independence By Asserting Their Rights To Marry Whom They Wished. In Examining These Growing Rifts Between The Liberal State And Familial Order Within Its Lower Order Citizens, Sloan Highlights The Role That Youths And The Working Class Played In Refashioning Systems Of Marriage, Honor, Sexuality, Parental Authority, And Filial Obedience.--publisher's Description. The Physical And Historical World Of Runaway Daughters And Their Suitors -- The Legal And Normative World Of Runaway Daughters And Their Suitors -- Making Love In Mexico : The Cultural Context Of Courtship And Gender Relations -- Bearing Witness : Courtship And Working-class Neighborhoods -- Disobedient Daughters And The Liberal State : Generational Conflicts Over Marriage Choice -- Runaway Daughters : Sexual Honor And Sources Of Female Power. Kathryn A. Sloan. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 185-237) And Index.

Against the backdrop of nineteenth-century Oaxaca City, Kathryn Sloan analyzes rapto trials--cases of abduction and/or seduction of a minor--to gain insight beyond the actual crime and into the reality that testimonies by parents, their children, and witnesses reveal about courtship practices, generational conflict, the negotiation of honor, and the relationship between the state and its working-class citizens in post colonial Mexico.

Unlike the colonial era where paternal rule was absolute, Sloan found that the state began to usurp parental authority in the home with the introduction of liberal reform laws. As these laws began to shape the terms of civil marriage, the courtroom played a more significant role in the resolution of familial power struggles and the restoration of family honor in rapto cases. Youths could now exert a measure of independence by asserting their rights to marry whom they wished. In examining these growing rifts between the liberal state and familial order within its lower order citizens, Sloan highlights the role that youths and the working class played in refashioning systems of marriage, honor, sexuality, parental authority, and filial obedience.

Contents......Page 8 Maps and Figures......Page 9 Acknowledgments......Page 10 INTRODUCTION......Page 14 CHAPTER ONE: The Physical and Historical World of Runaway Daughters and Their Suitors......Page 26 CHAPTER TWO: The Legal and Normative World of Runaway Daughters and Their Suitors......Page 45 CHAPTER THREE: Making Love in Mexico: The Cultural Context of Courtship and Gender Relations......Page 75 CHAPTER FOUR: Bearing Witness: Courtship and Working-Class Neighborhoods......Page 116 CHAPTER FIVE: Disobedient Daughters and the Liberal State: Generational Conflicts over Marriage Choice......Page 143 CHAPTER SIX: Runaway Daughters: Sexual Honor and Sources of Female Power......Page 168 CONCLUCTION......Page 191 Notes......Page 198 Bibliography......Page 232 C......Page 251 E......Page 252 J......Page 253 N......Page 254 R......Page 255 S......Page 256 Z......Page 257 Contents 8 Maps and Figures 9 Acknowledgments 10 INTRODUCTION 14 CHAPTER ONE: The Physical and Historical World of Runaway Daughters and Their Suitors 26 CHAPTER TWO: The Legal and Normative World of Runaway Daughters and Their Suitors 45 CHAPTER THREE: Making Love in Mexico: The Cultural Context of Courtship and Gender Relations 75 CHAPTER FOUR: Bearing Witness: Courtship and Working-Class Neighborhoods 116 CHAPTER FIVE: Disobedient Daughters and the Liberal State: Generational Conflicts over Marriage Choice 143 CHAPTER SIX: Runaway Daughters: Sexual Honor and Sources of Female Power 168 CONCLUCTION 191 Notes 198 Bibliography 232 Index 251 A 251 B 251 C 251 D 252 E 252 F 253 G 253 H 253 I 253 J 253 K 254 L 254 M 254 N 254 O 255 P 255 Q 255 R 255 S 256 T 257 U 257 V 257 W 257 X 257 Z 257 Against the backdrop of 19th-century Oaxaca City, this book analyzes rapto trials - cases of abduction and/or seduction of a minor - to gain insight beyond the actual crime and into the reality that testimonies by parents, their children, and witnesses reveal about courtship practices, generational conflict, and the negotiation of honor. Sloan investigates how civil laws in post-colonial Mexico played a significant role in changing social norms for marriage, sexuality, and parental authority