Domazetski brak u Istri
Uxorilocal Marriage in Istria

Summary/Abstract: Uxorilocal marriage in Istria is a relatively frequent phenomenon. The poverty of man is the most usual reason for his moving into wife’s house after marriage. The specificity of his status is noticed in many details. Although a strong negative attitude toward such men is not created, it is still apparent that they differ by their position from other, »normally« married men. A pejorative name, a subjugated status with more duties and less rights inside the household, and the obligatory teasing or, somewhere, open disdain are usual. However, such a marriage is considered only as a »necessary evil« and not an especially shameful thing. There is an interesting event, associated with men who moved into their wives’ houses, reported in the village Smoljanci. A couple years ago they organized their own Carnival group by which they distinguished themselves from other men in the village both as a special in-married group and as a group of people who came from other villages. So, they are doubly marked: they are laughed at because they live on their wives’ holdings, and they are reminded that they are »newcomers«.

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