Expert: Paul Walcutt - 2/8/2004

Question
Hi! Is it true that in Brazil a man could kill his wife for minor reasons such as arguing with him and not serving food on time?

Answer
I am not sure about this particular defense, but I know that there was a broad "honor defense" that served as a justification for a killing that was provoked by threats to a man's masculinity/dominance/honor.  Here are some sources that might be of use (I'd recommend using Lexis-Nexis for getting the actual articles, or ask your librarian for help):

Criminal Injustice: Violence Against Women in Brazil, Women's Rights Project and Americas Watch, October 1991, pp 18-29.

Soihet, R., ‘Symbolic Violence: Male Lore and Female Representations', Revista Estudos Feministas, First Semester Special Issue (Rio de Janeiro: Instituto de Filosofia e Ciências Sociais [ Institute of Social Science and Philosophy] – IFCS/UFRJ [ Rio de Janeiro Federal University] , 1999), 125-140.

Nelson, L. S., ‘The Defense of Honor: Is it Still Honored in Brazil?' Wisconsin International Law Journal, 11 (1993), 531-536.

Spatz, M., ‘A 'Lesser' Crime: A Comparative Study of Legal Defences for Men Who Kill Their Wives,' Columbia Journal of Law and Social Problems, 24 (1991), 597-638.

Spierenburg, P., Men and Violence: Gender, Honour and Rituals in Modern Europe and America (Columbus: Ohio State University Press, 1998).