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1955 Matrimonial Consent Act

Date
1955 - 1995
Archive
Central Archive of the Civil Registry of Barcelona
Document type
Textual
Reference code
CAT ARCBCN RC JMUN04BCN AC 90/1955
Link to the archive
Description

This document collects the consent of a husband so that his 67-year-old wife can travel abroad. Despite their adulthood and presumed autonomy, Franco’s legislation required married women to obtain marital authorization to perform actions such as travel, work or manage property. This act is a direct testimony of the legal subordination of the woman within the marriage, where the husband exercised legal control over his personal freedom. The document highlights the institutionalization of patriarchy and the denial of fundamental rights to women, even at advanced ages. It is part of the theme of the “beats of Catalan society” and politics and governance, and is a key source for understanding power structures and gender inequality during the Franco dictatorship. Its preservation is essential to preserve the memory of the struggles for women’s equality and dignity.