ABSTRACT
The conduct literature discussed in Chapter 2 also speaks to older women—either married or widowed—with children or daughters-in-law. Out of these writings emerges the notion of older women who perform a vital bridging role between generations, and who foster continuity, connection, and kinship within the family. Valier implies such a bridging role in On the True and Perfect Widowhood, which forms a section of Institutione d’ogni stato lodevole delle donne christiane. 1 He devotes several chapters to the utility of widows who do not remarry, emphasizing not only their role as models to virgins and married women and as sources of consolation and advice, but also as crucial support within extended family networks and as brokers of concord and peace, both at home and “in the neighborhood.” 2 Valier points to the widow Naomi and her relationship with her widowed daughters-in-law in the Old Testament as evidence of the importance of widows within family networks. 3
