ABSTRACT
The age of patriarchalism The Lutheran Church and Swedish Crown sought to maintain a broad patriarchal order of living across all levels of society as defined in the Lutheran catechism. The basic underlying ideology was the medieval doctrine of the three estates, which determined the position of different groups in society. In essence, social order rested on responsibility and deference: those above were expected to exercise responsibility to those below and there was an expectation of absolute deference to one’s superiors (Karonen, 2002: 10-26; Hedenborg, 1997: 206-208; Pulma, 1987: 12). The concept of a household in which the authority of the master and father was absolute was at the core of the patriarchal system. However, the master was expected to use his power in purposive and reasonable ways. Exercising power tyrannically would have run counter to its purpose. The duty of children was to obey their parents who as educators carried out their God-given task (Berglund, 2004: 124). “Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and mother” (Ephesians, 6: 1-3; Calonius, 1908: 167-171). The right to exert corporal chastisement within the household was a central element of the master’s authority; his wife, as mistress, could also administer physical punishment to her children and household servants (Calonius, 1908: 167-168). Such everyday legitimate physical discipline was not viewed as violence: on the contrary, it was a central pillar on which household order rested (Nehrman, 1756: 203). Although considered subordinate to their husbands, as mothers, wives were equally responsible for bringing up and physically chastising their offspring. According to Tomas Berglund, the duty to raise children during their early years, especially in the case of girls, belonged to the maternal sphere; it can be assumed that this was also reflected the gender distribution of lethal chastisement cases brought before the courts (Berglund, 2004: 107-109, 114-119).
