Women and power in Bahia’s outback: Celsina Teixeira Ladeia's correspondence (1901 to 1927)

Abstract

Through a critical view at gender relations in family and social environment of the Bahia High Hinterland, during the first three decades of the twentieth century, this research examines the multiple performances of Celsina Teixeira, it is captured through her personal letters. In addition to a purely biographical and personality analysis, this research studies the trajectory and the network of relationships built by this character in the period between 1901 and 1927. In order to execute this research, a variety of documents belonging to the Teixeira family collection was used, they consist of personal letters sent by Celsina Teixeira Ladeia to herself, notebooks of expenses and inventories. The network of relationships captured by the exchange of letters increased the understanding of women's writing as part of a larger set of activities. At this point, not just writing letters, but mainly the actions depicted on them allowed to ponder the powers historically built within and out of family context. The analysis of available sources allowed detecting significant instances of power that depart from the domestic environment, but are not confined in it. In the mail, the political aspect of women actions is felt in several situations: decisions about professional destinies, in the establishment of marriage strategies in the tense relationship with employees of the houses and the farms, in the budget and financial investments organization, in charitable activities, among others. (AU)