Abstract
The study of the first liberal Penal Codes (Spanish from 1822/1848/1850 and Portuguese from 1852) shows that the Spanish and the Portuguese woman share the same legal frame, but for a few differences. This frame preserves the feminine pattern of behaviour established by the Old Regime Courts, subject to man’s authority and to marriage as a guarantee of social and family order, but with a change: man’s honor resting upon the woman is honesty, not any longer privileged (married and honest) but imposed (home angel) and punished (dishonest woman). Between applying mercy or an exemplary treatment to a woman, liberal law chooses the last. Woman is not the plural category of the Old Regime any more, but the dual category angel/dishonest, which brings about her fragilitas. This leads to equality among women and approach to men in most offenses, but for the glaring inequality with regard to honor. An exception: the Portuguese wife, protected against procuring, has the right to take vengeance on his husband for her honor, whereas the Spanish wife does not have that right.
 Keywords: Spanish Penal Code 1822/1848/1850. Portuguese Penal Code 1852. Woman. Fragilitas. Honesty.
Highlights
Sabido es que la Revolución Liberal, que encumbra los derechos y libertades, deja sombras como la esclavitud, cortapisas a la libre asociación, ni la mujer disfrutaría de la igualdad
The study of the first liberal Penal Codes (Spanish from 1822/1848/1850 and Portuguese from 1852) shows that the Spanish and the Portuguese woman share the same legal frame, but for a few differences. This frame preserves the feminine pattern of behavior established by the Old Regime Courts, subject to man’s authority and to marriage as a guarantee of social and family order, but with a change: man’s honor resting upon the woman is honesty, not any longer privileged but imposed and punished
Woman is not the plural category of the Old Regime any more, but the dual category angel/dishonest, which brings about her fragilitas
Summary
La codificación liberal hereda el doble rasero del modelo patriarcal, que cifra la honra del varón/familia en la mujer. La codificación liberal cifra así la máxima fragilitas de la mujer en su indefensión ante la violencia, con pena máxima al autor de violación y rapto, y alcanza en Portugal al estupro del tutor, criado e incesto. Pero en rapto y más en estupro se exige responsabilidad a la mujer, recortada su fragilitas con la rebaja de penas al autor de esos delitos, y en España especialmente a la casada, a quien se niega indemnización. Estos Códigos salvaguardan así el derecho a la honra de toda mujer, pero recortan los privilegios de su fragilitas hacia la igualdad con el varón: la «honrada» perderá el agravante por injuriada y beneficio de arresto a domicilio, solo sostenidos en el cpe de 1822 (715 y 77). También en Portugal, la pena se ejecuta tras el mes del parto (92), y se pena al cónyuge con 1-6 meses por sobornar a favor del otro cónyuge/ pariente en primer grado (321)
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