Women in Colonial Spanish America

I. Introduction

A. From Conquest to colonization
B. Variation by race and class
C. Ideals and realities

II. Role of Women in Conquest

A. Symbolism:

1. Gendering America and its inhabitants as female (painting)
2. Colonialism as an attack on indigenous masculinity (Guaman Poma)

B. Military Phase

1. Exceptional female fighters: Nun Ensign, Malinche/Malintzin/Dona Marina
2. Support roles
3. Casualties

C. Frontiers: La Plata (Buenos Aires and Asunción)

1. Exceptional Spanish women: Doña Isabel de Guevara (Asuncion) and Ines Suarez (Chile)
2. Indigenous women as mediators in settlement of Asuncion leads to mestizo society

III. Settlement and Colonization

What were the roles and experiences of women in colonization, and how did these vary by race and class?

A. Indigenous Women

1. Elite: Intermarriage, ex: Isabel Moctezuma
2. Common: labor, informal or coerced relationships with Spanish men
3. Some fall in between: Doña Isabel Sisa and Ana Juana (testament)

B. Spanish Women

1. Numbers
1500: 10%
1570: 30%

2. Importance

a. settled society: stability
b. laws encouraging marriage and requiring bringing over wives from Spain, higher status brides
c. serve as role models of Spanish values

III. Restraints and Protections

What were the cultural and legal constraints on women and how did they work within these?

A. Honor Code

1. Status and virtue

a. men: authority over others
b. women: elite women had status, but more emphasis on virtue

2. Importance of appearances/reputation
3. Marriage: elite parents try to control

a. rapto or “kidnapping”, but more of elopement
b. Catholic Church doctrine supported free will in marriage.

B. Laws

1. Subordination of women: Patria Potestad

a. Household: fathers/husbands had authority
b. Societal: women excluded from positions of public authority (except queens)

2. Protections

a. Dowry: always belonged to wife, even when managed by husband; she could sue for management if husband profligate
b. Inheritance: equal between sons and daughters (although 1/5 could go to favored heir)
c. Assets acquired during marriage were common property of husband and wife
d. Widows and unmarried women more independent

IV. Economic activities

A. Opportunities

1. Elite: management of rural estates
2. Middling: shops, bakeries, seamstresses, midwives
3. Poor: market or street sellers, domestic service, field labor

B. Limitations

1. Elite women had to maintain appearances
2. Unskilled labor not “liberating”

Questions:

What were the roles and experiences of women in colonization, and how did these vary by race and class?

What were the cultural and legal constraints on women and how did they work within these?

I.D. Terms:

Buenos Aires
Asunción
Santiago (Inés Suarez)
Isabel Moctezuma
Rapto
Patria Potestad

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