Saindo da gaiola dourada : desquite, divórcio e relações de gênero no Recife de 1917 a 1937

Abstract

This work aims to analyze press, intelectuals and social actors' positioning about marital separation, through narratives and practices. The research timeframe begins in 1917, when 1916 civil code was promulgated. The first Brazillian civil code instituted the word "separation" instead of "divorce", used by the 1890 matrimonial code. Furthermore, the civil code ratified the parental power and introduced the married woman as a relatively powerless subject. Thus, we studied how the narratives were built, aiming to define the husbands and married women's social roles according to the models established by 1916 civil code. Around the 30's, the feminist movemente emerges in Recife, the Pernambuco's Federation for Female Progress and the Brazillian Feminist Crusade. Thereby, we'll analyze both movements to understand if there was a favorable or not-so positioning about marital separation, since the civil code workes as a moral and social regulation to women mainly. So, we studied the separation, marriage annulment and alimony lawsuits to investigate how social actors experienced Brazillian law practices and the established social behaviors for husbands and wives. This work demands to do a counterpoint between the narratives and practices established on a civil code that legitimated behaviors settled on promoting sexists and unequal model conducts for husbands and wives. This research's contribution, based on gender relations studies, allows us to understand which way the social construction, in history, influenced men and women's unequal roles maintenance and propagation.