Bounded Identities: Women and Religion in Colonial Brazil, 1550-1750
Author(s)
Myscofski, Carole A.
Abstract
The creation of gender identity among women in the religious discourse of colonial Brazil during 1550-1750 was investigated. The study also documented the emergence of two separate norms, one for elite women and another for slave, mixed-race and lower class women. The Roman Catholic Church played a significant role in the transmission of those norms in religious guidebooks, sermons and missionary letters. The discourse on marriage was also examined to determine the expectations for women.
