Against feminine honor

sexual crimes victiming girls in Mariana (second half of 19th century)

Abstract

The present article analyzes criminal suits about girls who was victims of sexual delicts in Mariana on second half of the 19th century. Using the criminal suits, we will analyze these delicts (deflowerings, rapes, “kidnapping with libidinous ends”, etc.), which mostly had as aggressors men who lived at the same home or work ambient of their victims. The victims’ social situation – all of them arising from poorness – propitiated the offender’s impunity, favouring the aggression. Besides the criminal suits, we also based our analysis in the Penal Brazilian Codes of 1830 and 1890.