Sexual Violence in History: A Bibliography

compiled by Stefan Blaschke

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Start: Alphabetical Index: Author Index: A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z | Unknown

First published: February 1, 2026 - Last updated: February 1, 2026

TITLE INFORMATION

Authors: Jacqueline Turek

Title: Uneheliche Schwangerschaften und weiblicher Gesindedienst im vormodernen Nürnberg

Subtitle: Eine Untersuchung zu Klagen von schwangeren Mägden vor städtischen Gerichten

Translation:

Journal: Das Mittelalter: Perspektiven mediävistischer Forschung. Zeitschrift des Mediävistikverbandes (The Middle Ages: Perspectives on Medieval Studies. Journal of the Medieval Studies Association)

Volume: 30

Issue: 2: Sexualitäten im Mittelalter: Normen und Devianz, Phantasien und Praktiken (Sexualities in the Middle Ages: Norms and Deviance, Fantasies and Practices) (Edited by Hendrik Hess, Christian Kaiser, Birgit Zacke)

Pages: 336-359

pISSN: 0949-0345 - Find a Library: WorldCat | eISSN: 2196-6869 - Find a Library: WorldCat

Language: German

Keywords: Modern History: 16th Century | European History: German History | Types: Rape; Victims: Professions / Domestic Workers



FULL TEXT

Link: Heidelberg University Publishing (Free Access)



ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Author: Jacqueline Turek, Historisches Institut (Department of History), Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen (RWTH Aachen University)

Abstract: »In late medieval society, both consensual and forced sexual relationships between maidservants and their masters were common. Although such behaviour was considered morally reprehensible and punishable by the authorities, the contemporary structural conditions of female servitude supported such relationships. Sometimes they ended in illegitimate pregnancies with negative social and economic consequences for the maidservants. Some of the cases of illegitimate pregnancies were brought before the Nuremberg courts. The surviving claims for custody and alimony in the Nuremberg court records reveal both the desire for justice and the social plight of the pregnant maidservants. With the help of the authorities, they obtained financial support from the children’s fathers to provide for themselves and their children. In addition, they always tried to preserve their sexual integrity and female honour as much as possible. To this end, they used gender-specific argumentation structures to leverage contemporary female stereotypes and social grievances to their advantage. As active, self-confident protagonists, they fought for their social and economic survival and belie the image of the passive female object in a patriarchal social order.« (Source: Das Mittelalter)

Contents:
  Abstract (p. 336)
  1 Einleitung (p. 337)
  2 Die Quellen: ‚Libri Conservatorii‘ und ‚Bücher des Stadt-, Unter- und Bauerngerichts‘ (p. 338)
  3 Weiblicher Gesindedienst: Eine Gefahr für die sexuelle Integrität? (p. 341)
  4 Das literarische Stereotyp: Die leichtfertige Magd (p. 344)
  5 Mägde vor Gericht: Klagen gegen den Kindsvater (p. 347)
  6 Argumentationsstrategie 1: Das Eheversprechen (p. 348)
  7 Argumentationsstrategie 2: Der gewaltvolle Akt (p. 350)
  8 Argumentationsstrategie 3: Jugend und Naivität (p. 351)
  9 Erfolgschancen der Prozesse (p. 352)
  10 Fazit (p. 354)
  Literaturverzeichnis (p. 356)
    Quellen (p. 356)
    Forschungsliteratur (p. 357)

Wikipedia: History of Europe: History of Germany / Germany in the early modern period | Sex and the law: Rape / Rape in Germany