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Incest in Sweden 1680–1940 : A history of forbidden relations

Clementsson, Bonnie LU (2020)
Abstract
This study brings out the norms and culturally dependent values that formed the basis of the theoretical regulation and the practical handling of incest cases in Sweden 1680–1940, situating this development in a wider European context. It discusses a broad variety of general human subjects that are as important today as they were hundreds of years ago, such as love, death, family relations, religion, crimes, and punishments.

By analysing criminal-case material and applications for dispensation, as well as political and legislative sources, the incest phenomenon is explored from different perspectives over a long time period. It turns out that although the incest debate has been dominated by religious, moral, and later medical... (More)
This study brings out the norms and culturally dependent values that formed the basis of the theoretical regulation and the practical handling of incest cases in Sweden 1680–1940, situating this development in a wider European context. It discusses a broad variety of general human subjects that are as important today as they were hundreds of years ago, such as love, death, family relations, religion, crimes, and punishments.

By analysing criminal-case material and applications for dispensation, as well as political and legislative sources, the incest phenomenon is explored from different perspectives over a long time period. It turns out that although the incest debate has been dominated by religious, moral, and later medical beliefs, ideas about love, age, and family hierarchies often influenced the assessment of individual incest cases. These unspoken values could be decisive – sometimes life-determining – for the outcome of various incest cases. (Less)
Abstract (Swedish)
För 300 år sedan avrättades en man och hans avlidna hustrus syster ifall det avslöjades att de hade haft sexuellt umgänge. Deras relation definierades som incestuös och benådningar var sällsynta. Incestförbuden omfattade då många fler relationskategorier än idag och fram till sent 1800-tal var de flesta incestuösa relationer frivilliga föreningar mellan två vuxna individer som saknade biologiska släktband. Jämfört med andra europeiska länder var svensk lagstiftning i äldre tid ovanligt sträng, men i modern tid har den tvärtom blivit mycket liberal.

I Förbjudna förbindelser undersöker Bonnie Clementsson vilka normer som har legat till grund för det svenska samhällets skiftande inställning till incestuösa relationer under perioden... (More)
För 300 år sedan avrättades en man och hans avlidna hustrus syster ifall det avslöjades att de hade haft sexuellt umgänge. Deras relation definierades som incestuös och benådningar var sällsynta. Incestförbuden omfattade då många fler relationskategorier än idag och fram till sent 1800-tal var de flesta incestuösa relationer frivilliga föreningar mellan två vuxna individer som saknade biologiska släktband. Jämfört med andra europeiska länder var svensk lagstiftning i äldre tid ovanligt sträng, men i modern tid har den tvärtom blivit mycket liberal.

I Förbjudna förbindelser undersöker Bonnie Clementsson vilka normer som har legat till grund för det svenska samhällets skiftande inställning till incestuösa relationer under perioden 1680–1940 och sätter in resultatet i en större europeisk kontext. Även om incestdebatten i olika tider har dominerats av religiösa, moraliska och senare medicinska föreställningar, visar undersökningen att det ofta har varit helt andra värderingar som fått avgörande – ibland livsavgörande – betydelse för utfallet av olika incestärenden.
(Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
organization
publishing date
type
Book/Report
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Incest, early modern, crime, sexuality, family relations, marriage application
pages
332 pages
publisher
Lund University Press
ISBN
9789198469912
978-9-1984-6990-5
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
7621377f-bbba-4553-9b05-ae0485c09a16
alternative location
https://www.manchesteropenhive.com/view/9789198469912/9789198469912.xml
date added to LUP
2020-11-09 09:02:50
date last changed
2020-11-20 16:56:42
@book{7621377f-bbba-4553-9b05-ae0485c09a16,
  abstract     = {{This study brings out the norms and culturally dependent values that formed the basis of the theoretical regulation and the practical handling of incest cases in Sweden 1680–1940, situating this development in a wider European context. It discusses a broad variety of general human subjects that are as important today as they were hundreds of years ago, such as love, death, family relations, religion, crimes, and punishments.<br/><br/>By analysing criminal-case material and applications for dispensation, as well as political and legislative sources, the incest phenomenon is explored from different perspectives over a long time period. It turns out that although the incest debate has been dominated by religious, moral, and later medical beliefs, ideas about love, age, and family hierarchies often influenced the assessment of individual incest cases. These unspoken values could be decisive – sometimes life-determining – for the outcome of various incest cases.}},
  author       = {{Clementsson, Bonnie}},
  isbn         = {{9789198469912}},
  keywords     = {{Incest, early modern, crime, sexuality, family relations, marriage application}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  publisher    = {{Lund University Press}},
  title        = {{Incest in Sweden 1680–1940 : A history of forbidden relations}},
  url          = {{https://www.manchesteropenhive.com/view/9789198469912/9789198469912.xml}},
  year         = {{2020}},
}