Vaidades nos Conventos Femininos ou das Dificuldades em deixar a Vida Mundana (séculos XVII-XVIII)

Abstract

From an historical approach, we propose to study forbidden actions of nuns in Portuguese convents in the Modern Era. The lives of these women were governed by rules, which they did not always respect. Such violations often resulted in deviating behaviors, involving religious habits, lay clothes and jewelry, cosmetics, pet dogs and cats, violation of cloister, acting in comedy plays or even selling sweets. Year after year, the visitors criticized such behavior, extorting the nuns to respect the rule, and even threatened them with punishment, but most of them resisted.