Sociology and Space, No. 40-42, 1973.
Review article
The Meaning of the Patriarchial Family Continuum in Montenegro
Vidak Vujačić
Abstract
The stable structure of the Montenegrin patriarchal family basically resulted from the existence of clans (zajednica bratstva). Family hierarchy was based on two essential criteria: sex and age. The structure of the Montenegrin patriarchal family was conditioned more by general (and special) interests than by individual ones. This was especially true if the clan character of the Montenegrin patriarchal
society was strongly in evidence. The principles of the Montenegrin patriarchal family, both nuclear and joint, were in fact an expression of the clan, or tribal structure and organization. Even today, when we evaluate its importance, we cannot rid ourselves of the equality between family and collective (clan and tribal) interests.
The Montenegrin patriarchal family was born in special, very difficult and ardourous conditions. It had its own life and social characteristics a complex intertwining of clan or tribal relations and situations. When we determine its importance today we must not forget its exceptionally great role in the struggle for freedom and liberty. This made the patriarchal family a factor without which complex historical processes in the past could not even be imagined, in the framework of either the clan, tribe or nation. This is natural, because the patriarchal family has grown directly out of home land of Montenegro.
Today the true patriarchal family is almost non-existent. However, thanks to »remnants of the patriarchal way,« which are especially found in the mentality of men and women, we can conclude that a patriarchal way of life still determines certain kinds of human behaviour, which gives the man precedence in both family and marital life. There is no doubt that the development of social and economic relations have created basic pre-conditions for overcoming discriminatory relations between the sexes in the frame of marriage and the family. However, we still find many forms of male dominance, which give the modern Montenegrin family, especially the village family, patriarchal characteristics, nowhere of course in their
»classical« form.
The emancipation of the woman from the influence of traditional (patriarchal) lire values depends on all the conditions of life. If the development of society creates equal conditions for the man and the woman, then they will be brought into almost the same position. However, if there are no such conditions, then there
is no emancipation of the woman, because of the lasting patriarchal prejudices concerning the woman, her position and role in society and in the family. Thus we can conclude that the emancipation of the woman from the influence of a traditional (patriarchal)
lire values depends on all the conditions of life. If the development of society creates equal conditions for the man and the woman, then they will be brought into almost the same position. However, if there are no such conditions, then there is no emancipation of the woman, because of the lasting patriarchal prejudices concerning the woman, her position and role in society and in the family. Thus we can conclude that the emancipation of the woman from the influence of a patriarchal way of life is taking place very slowly.
Keywords
Hrčak ID:
119657
URI
Publication date:
7.12.1973.
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