Independence And/or Subjugation: the Ambivalence of the Social Position of Women on the Island of Zlarin

The prevailing opinion is that women of the Mediterranean cultural area occupied a second rate position in society. Excluded from activities in public life, on the whole they were pushed aside to devote themselves to activities in their homes. Fernand Braudel considers, moreover, that the evident attachment of women of the Mediterranean area to their households, is a civilisation-fact of particular significance (1985:205). Therefore, the question arises if such a qualification also holds for the Croatian part of Mediterranean area, particularly in relation to the female members of the peasant social stratum. Were peasant women of the East