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Historical Background

Photo courtesy of: lorfed

The patriarchal and nuclear family traditionally served as the norm and the ideal in Portugal until the 1970s.  Until the constitution of 1976, the father was seen as the head of the family, and his wife and children had to recognize his authority.  He, in turn, had to support and protect his family.  While the men worked outside the home, women were expected to care for the children and manage household affairs.  Marriage was considered permanent; and divorce was virtually unknown.  During the period of Salazar's rule from 1928 to 1968, the family was  seen as the primary institution of politics. Voting was organized under the Estado Novo (New State), on a family basis. Only heads of households (usually men but occasionally women) could vote.

The Effects of Class

Although the nuclear and patriarchal family was the ideal, the cultural patterns varied depending on class status and region.  Upper- and middle-class families were the closest to the ideal.  Women remained at home tending the children and rarely ventured out unaccompanied, and husbands managed their businesses or followed their professions. However, peasant and working-class families were not always traditional families.  In northern Portugal, for example, names and property were often passed on through the mother. The fact that women could inherit land in Portugal gave women in rural areas some independence. Many of them managed their own farms, took their produce to market, and did much heavy work that was traditionally seen as a male job.

Progress in Family Life

After the fall of the dictatorship there were improvements in the Portuguese economy. In addition, there were increasing employment rates for women outside the home, and a spread of new ideas about women and marriage. These factors gradually changed the nature of the Portuguese family. The constitution in 1976 granted women rights within the family. They were allowed to divorce their husbands, and could have abortions. When maternity leave policies were made, women had more opportunities and began to enter the work force at a higher rate than ever before.  Also, new education policies took the burden off of parents to provide schooling, which helped promote parents joining the workforce.  

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Authors: Lauren Peterson, James Porter, Sabina Ramdas

This websight was designed over the course of one semester in an undergraduate sociology course on gender,work, and family relations. The research project was conducted under the supervision of Professor Brayfield at Tulane University, and is limited to sources written in English. 

Published: May 5, 2009