Gender Roles in the Brehon Code of Ireland
"There are with the Feine seven women, who though bound by son and security, are competent to separate from cohabitation, whatever day they like; and whatever has been given them…
From: Unknown To: 1600 C.E.
Location: Ireland
Note: This article has been excerpted from a larger work in the public domain and shared here due to its historical value. It may contain outdated ideas and language that do not reflect TOTA’s opinions and beliefs.
Brehon laws on gender roles from the Ancient Laws of Ireland, translated 1901.
There are with the Feine seven women, who though bound by son and security, are competent to separate from cohabitation, whatever day they like; and whatever has been given them as their dowry, is theirs by right: a woman of whom her husband circulates a false story; a woman upon whom her husband gives circulation to a satire until she is laughed at; a woman upon whom a cheek-blemish is inflicted; a woman who is sent back and repudiated for another; a woman who is cheated of bed-rites, so that her husband prefers to lie with servant-boys when it was not necessary for him; a woman to whom her mate has administered a philtre when entreating her, so that he brings her to fornication; a woman who is not able to receive her desire in the community of marriage, for every woman among the Feine on whom there is this bond, and who gives her proper cooperation for it, is entitled to her desire.
Of the Removal of Covenants
As to the honour-price of a fuidir [semi-free laborer], if he is a bond fuidir, how is it estimated? By the honour of his chief, the fourth of whose dire [honour-price] is due to him; the half of this to his wife, as regards every class of person with the Feine, except three [classes of] persons only, whose wives are entitled to honour-price: a man without possession, without property, who has to wife an heiress, he is estimated by the honour-price of his wife; a man who follows behind his wife over the boundary [moves to his wife's land], he is paid for according to the honour of his wife; and a "cu-glas" [stray dog], he is paid for according to the honour of his wife, and it is she who pays for his crimes after marrying him, or after acknowledgment by her tribe.
These three parties are able to disturb the contracts of their husbands, who cannot sell or buy without their wives, except what they order. Though a man has fallen from his dignity, it does not lessen the honour-price of his wife, who retains the best she happens to have; so likewise, if the woman falls from her obedience, it does not subtract from the honour-price of her husband, who retains the best he happens to have.
Bibliography
Ancient Laws of Ireland: Uraicect Becc and Certain Other Selected Brehon Law Tracts (Dublin: H.M. Stationery Office, 1901).
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