Paper short abstract:

Based on ethnographic work in a rural area of central northwestern Spain, this paper will discuss the changing meanings and uses of inheritance at the turn of the century in an area of equal-part inheritance for both men and women. There is concern over the possible clash of these moral rights in an increasingly critical economic situation in which the need to provide for one’s offspring may override sibling solidarity.

Paper long abstract:

Based on ethnographic work in a rural area of central northwestern Spain, this paper will discuss the changing meanings and uses of inheritance at the turn of the century in an area of equal-part inheritance for both men and women. Whereas during most of the 20th century, women and men inherited rural property (land, animals, tools, etc.) and used it to form their own family farms, this changes at the end of the century when a certain number of men but almost no women stay to farm in the village or in nearby villages. Women continue to inherit property that they do not now use, while men inherit property that they do use, as well as using their sisters' property. That is, women have property rights over land that their brothers use, and this use by the brothers generates use rights. Both property and use rights have to do with belonging and with reproduction of families and family businesses; and both are very strong moral rights. Sisters have a moral hold on brothers because the brothers make their living using their sisters' land; brothers have a moral hold over the land because they are actually using it.