NCJ Number
54642
Date Published
1978
Length
14 pages
Annotation
ELEMENTS OF THE FAMILY HONOR CODE IN RURAL COMMUNITIES OF THE MEDITERRANEAN AND THEIR RELATION TO VIOLENT BEHAVIOR WITHIN THE FAMILY ARE DISCUSSED THROUGH A REVIEW OF ANTHROPOLOGICAL AND SOCIOLOGICAL STUDIES.
Abstract
THE RURAL CULTURES OF GREECE, ITALY, CYPRUS, AND PORTUGAL ARE CONSIDERED. THE FAMILY HONOR CODE THAT EXISTS IN RURAL COMMUNITIES IN COUNTRIES SURROUNDING THE MEDITERRANEAN IS VIEWED BY SOCIOLOGISTS AS ROOTED IN THE FAMILY AS THE PRINCIPAL SOCIOECONOMIC UNIT THROUGH WHICH THE MALE DEMONSTRATES HIS POWER AND AFFIRMS HIS WORTH. THE ADEQUACY OF THE MALE IS REFLECTED IN THE CONTROL HE EXERCISES OVER HIS WIFE AND CHILDREN, WHO ARE DEEMED INFERIOR IN INTELLIGENCE AND WEAK IN THE USE OF WILL POWER TO CONTROL THEIR BEHAVIOR, PARTICULARLY SEXUAL BEHAVIOR. THE MAN'S EXERCISE OF HIS STRENGTH AND SKILL TO PROVIDE ECONOMIC SUPPORT FOR HIS FAMILY AND CONTROL HIS WIFE AND CHILDREN TO FUNCTION FAITHFULLY IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THEIR DUTIES WITHIN THE FAMILY THUS BECOMES THE MEASURE OF HIS WORTH AS A MAN. FURTHER, HIS DEMONSTRATION OF POWER IS ROOTED IN HIS SUPERIOR PHYSICAL STRENGTH. WHEN A FAMILY'S HONOR, AS REPRESENTED IN A MAN'S CONTROL OF HIS HOUSEHOLD, IS CHALLENGED BY UNFAITHFULNESS IN HIS WIFE OR DISOBEDIENCE IN HIS CHILDREN, THEN THE REDEMPTION OF HIS HONOR MAY REQUIRE THAT HE USE VIOLENCE TO REASSERT HIS CONTROL AND DEMONSTRATE HIS SUPERIOR POWER OVER THE RECALCITRANT FAMILY MEMBER. EXAMPLES OF INSTANCES OF VIOLENCE IN SUPPORT OF FAMILY HONOR ARE PROVIDED. IT IS NOTED THAT VARIATIONS OF THIS PATTERN OF MALE BEHAVIOR IN A FAMILY CONTEXT CAN BE OBSERVED IN WESTERN URBAN INDUSTRIALIZED SOCIETIES. SOME QUESTIONS ARE PROPOSED FOR FURTHER RESEARCH. REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (RCB)