Marital Rape

By: Chloe Haynie

During the 18th century, the "marital contract" was viewed as a husband owning his wife. Much like "master and servant". A woman having sex with their husband was considered a "duty" in the household, and if the wife refrains from this, it was considered a "breach of duty". All marital matters, including violence and rape in the house, were to be kept out of the public eye and dealt with at home.

I made this collage to express how women may have felt when these laws were in place. I feel uncomfortable looking at my work and that should be true for all the viewers. Women were being assaulted every day in their homes which should be considered everybody's safe place. They were considered property and were used while being silenced.

References: Ryan, R. M. (1995). The Sex Right: A Legal History of the Marital Rape Exemption. Law & Social Inquiry, 20(04), 941–1001. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1747-4469.1995.tb00697.x