Sociology and Space, No. 40-42, 1973.
Original scientific paper
The Trial Marriage as a Traditional Institution
Zorica Rajković
Abstract
Ethnological, sociological and other studies note the phenomenon of the
so-called trial marriage among Croats and Serbs. Reading such studies we can
see that different opinions concerning trial marriages exist, and that authors
disagree with regard to it. According to descriptions given the main characteristics
of the trial marriage are to test specific functions (the girl's ability to bear children,
her capacity for work, and the marital partner's suitability — wether both, or
only the girl), temporarity and illegitimacy. In existing studies the trial marriage
is explained in two ways: either as a traditional marital institution, or as a new
phenomenon.
The author carried out field studies of trial marriage from 1968—1971, mostly
in regions indicated in existing studies. She used methods of direct observationand systematic interviews. Newer data from the 238 questions of the Ethnological
Atlas (Etnološki atlas) were also used.
Research, and a study of existing literature, shows that it is not very likely
that the trial marriage is a traditional marital institution among Croats and
Serbs, because all the characteristics used to prove it as such are questionable.
The mistaken presentations as trial marriage of certain characteristics of peasant
marital life in some regions are based on differences in understanding marriage,
i. e. on the misunderstanding by observers and students from other social strata
and their unability to understand specific phenomena of marriage in some peasant
regions. This special approach is seen in the peasants not completely accepting
religious and legal concepts of marriage and giving priority to traditional manners
of forming a marital relationship. The result of such actions are non-legalized
marital relationships which were, according to the criterion of non legality,
wrongly explained as trial marriages.
Keywords
Hrčak ID:
119649
URI
Publication date:
7.12.1973.
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