Pre-modern family life and religious discourse Sociology of the family

historically, religious discourses have played significant role in constituting family members , constructing particular forms of behavior in families, , religion has been particularly important in discourses on female sexuality. example of role of religion in respect witchcraft craze in medieval europe. according turner, device regulate behavior of women, , attack on women witches principally critique of sexuality . women closely associated witchcraft, because argued particularly susceptible sexual advances of devil. ...women seen irrational, emotional , lacking in self-restraint; vulnerable satanic temptation.

turner argues attempts regulate female sexuality through religious discourse have, in case of western europe, understood in context of concerns managing private property , ensuring continuity. thus, land-owning aristocracy, point of marriage produce male heir property of household. since child mortality common, women had more or less continuously pregnant during marriage guarantee living male heir. furthermore, heir had legitimate, if disputes on inheritance avoided. legitimacy ensured heads of households marrying virgins , ensuring chastity of wives duration of marriage. equally,daughters had sexually pure if eligible marriage other property-holding families. such marriages prompted solely need produce children , had none of elements of eroticism , sexual compatibility of contemporary marriages.

in pre-modern europe, these interests reflected in character of marriages. private, arranged contracts dissolved in event of child production being compromised woman s infertility or infidelity. entry of church marriage arrangements, different definitions of marriage emerged. lifelong marriages demanded,but concern regulate sexuality, particularly sexuality of women.