Working women of early modern Venice / by Monica Chojnacka.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Chojnacka, Monica.

Series:

Johns Hopkins University studies in historical and political science ; 118th ser., 3.

The Johns Hopkins University studies in historical and political science ; 118th ser., 3

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Women--Employment--Italy--Venice--History.

Women.

Women employees--Italy--Venice--History.

Women employees.

Women--Italy--Venice--History.

History.

Women--Employment.

Italy--Venice.

Physical Description:

xii, 188 pages ; 24 cm.

Place of Publication:

Baltimore : Johns Hopkins University Press, 2001.

Summary:

In this groundbreaking book, Monica Chojnacka argues that the women of early modern Venice occupied a more socially powerful space than traditionally believed. Rather than focusing exclusively on the women of noble or wealthy merchant families, Chojnacka explores the lives of women -- unmarried, married, or widowed -- who worked for a living and helped keep the city running through their labor, services, and products.

Among Chojnacka's surprising findings is the degree to which these working women exercised control over their own lives. Many headed households and even owned their own homes; when necessary, they also took in and supported other women of their families. Some were self-employed, while others had jobs outside the home. They often moved freely about the city to conduct business, and they took legal action in the courts on their own behalf. On a daily basis, Venetian women worked, traveled, and contested obstacles in ways that made the city their own.

Contents:

Chapter 1 Residence, Sex, and Marriage: The Structure of Venetian Households 1

Chapter 2 Women of Means: Property and Possessions 26

Chapter 3 Around the Neighborhood 50

Chapter 4 Immigrant Women: Into the Neighborhood 81

Chapter 5 Beyond the Contrada: Women and Mobility 103

Chapter 6 City of Women: Institutions and Communities 121

Appendix A Note about the Status Animarum 141.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 169-184) and index.

ISBN:

0801864852

OCLC:

43951956