Earthly Madonnas? Women troublemakers in 18th century Malta

Abstract

In the criminal reports and court proceedings of the eighteenth century one comes across a large number of women, almost equal to the number of men, getting into all kinds of trouble. In many cases women were the victims of injustices and criminal acts. However at other times it was the women themselves who were personally involved and committed the crimes. Although their own legal rights were limited, women regardless of marital Status could be sued in the same way as men. For example, court records show that women were sued in civil law in such matters as the non-payment of debts and illicit gambling in their taverns. Accusations against women both from Valletta and the villages included those of abusive and blasphemous conduct, drunkeness, theft offense, smolesting, fighting and beating up people. Punishments took the form of fines, warnings as well as imprisonment, incarceration in a conserllatorio and even exile to Gozo.