Mulheres honestas e que a todos tratam bem. Relações de gênero e violência verbal em Juiz de Fora (Minas Gerais)

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the honor of women and gender relations in Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, between the years 1854 and 1941. We researched 294 criminal cases of libel and slander open between the years mentioned above in order to understand how the female sexual reputation served as a way of interaction and regulation of community relations. We observed that in most cases the offenses were directed against breaches of social norms practiced by women who were therefore reminded of the social role that was due them in the community in which they lived