Spanish American Motherhood Research Paper

By the 1800s, the Spanish Empire had colonial control of the Viceroyalty of New Granada, or modern-day Ecuador, Colombia, and Venezuela, for centuries. Most aspects of Latin American society had been previously imposed by Spain, including the language, government, and ideas of gender and race. Spanish-American society consistently maintained order through hierarchies of race, gender, and class that made up one’s social position. Society was patriarchal, where men had almost full control over women, but the Casta system, or a racial hierarchy based on one’s racial makeup of Spanish, Indigenous, or African, played a large role in determining one’s economic class. Furthermore, although Spanish gender roles and views on motherhood were applied …show more content…
Women’s influence within colonial society, as well as their ability to go beyond domestic roles, was also dependent on their socioeconomic status. Elite widows often had power over their economic interests and were typically seen as matriarchal figures within their extended families. Non-elite women typically had more say in the formation of their families than elite women, but were nonetheless more vulnerable due to economic insecurity. Elite women could also avoid the responsibilities of motherhood, as they could join a convent. Although they were still under the hierarchical and patriarchal system of the Catholic church, they had some independence and access to education. The reception towards women’s participation in the Spanish-American Wars of Independence varied, with some arguing that “women do not understand the philosophy of revolutions.” Nevertheless, this did not dissuade women from participating in the revolution in various ways, including more outwardly political actions such as hiding refugees, presenting public speeches against Spain, and joining …show more content…
The founding of Gran Colombia saw the creation of a republican government that would supposedly bring forth an era of equality and representation. However, the patriarchal system had become so deeply entrenched within Latin American society to the point that politics and laws were set up to further confine women to the “domestic sphere.” This was largely done to maintain a sense of stability in the newly forming republic and further served as a way to avoid social changes that could threaten the privileges of elite men. Although women’s roles as the “reproducers” and “managers” of the private sphere allowed them to play a role in the construction of an independent Latin American society through the family, they were unable to do so as individuals, still seen as extensions of their male family members. Furthermore, men still had ultimate control over the home. As women’s property rights decreased, they were left with less control over the domestic sphere than during colonial times. Due to the disordered state of post-revolutionary Gran Colombia, the early 19th century saw little economic growth, and by extension, little societal

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Spanish American Motherhood Research Paper

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