A1 Journal article (refereed)
Bankrupt widows. Gendered features of merchant business and bankruptcy in late pre-industrial society (2024)

Turunen, R. (2024). Bankrupt widows. Gendered features of merchant business and bankruptcy in late pre-industrial society. Women's History Review, Early online. https://doi.org/10.1080/09612025.2024.2345932

JYU authors or editors

Publication details

All authors or editors: Turunen, Riina

Journal or series: Women's History Review

ISSN: 0961-2025

eISSN: 1747-583X

Publication year: 2024

Publication date: 26/04/2024

Volume: Early online

Publisher: Routledge

Publication country: United Kingdom

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/09612025.2024.2345932

Publication open access: Openly available

Publication channel open access: Partially open access channel

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/94641

Abstract

Bankruptcy has never treated people equally, and it still bares many gendered features today. In pre-industrial societies there were only a few bankrupt women debtors, and those who did go bankrupt were typically widows, who could continue their husband’s business and become commercially and legally independent. This article builds on a micro-historical case study of two Finnish merchant widows who eventually went bankrupt, with the aim of investigating the gendered features of trading business and bankruptcy, and what it meant to be a female debtor in the late pre-industrial society. The choices they had in these life cycle crises of losing a husband and insolvency are also examined. The article demonstrates that widows did business with a level of self-determination almost equal to men, but this meant they were held responsible when problems arose. Being a woman and a widow were not sufficient reasons to save a debtor from a lifetime of repayment liability, even though the widows appealed in the hope of achieving this. The article highlights that the widows felt compelled to continue the business independently, and that for women bankrupts, especially those who were older, family ties were particularly important when coping with bankruptcy.

Keywords: bankruptcy; widowhood; entrepreneurship; course of life; women

Free keywords: bankruptcy; business failure; gender; widowhood; life cycle crises; entrepreneurship; credit; women’s work; bourgeoisie; Finland

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Ministry reporting: Yes

Reporting Year: 2024

Preliminary JUFO rating: 2