Liangliang Wang
Biquan College, Xiangtan University, Xiangtan 411105, Hunan, China.
*Corresponding author: Liangliang Wang
Abstract
The paper analyzes marriage during the Middle Ages, emphasizing its social impact, sanctity, and the principle of consent, which gives those who commit to a marriage the freedom to make their own decisions, undermining the authority of traditional family interests over marriage, while sanctity uses ceremonies and rites to maintain the indissoluble nature of marriage. Based on this, the paper goes on to demonstrate how canon law protects the rights and interests of women. This includes advancing women’s economic independence within the family through the legal protection of inheritance and property rights, as well as preserving women’s status of independent choice through the affirmation of marriage rights. The paper highlights the moral, legal, and social advancement of marriage in medieval canon law, paying particular attention to its historical role in elevating women’s standing. The influence of canon law on marriage was far-reaching, and it promoted the progress and evolution of the marriage system in medieval society, reflecting the profound transformation of marriage in Western society from a secular economic contract to a religious and moral contract.
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How to cite this paper
Marriage and the Protection of Rights of Women in Medieval Canon Law
How to cite this paper: Liangliang Wang. (2025) Marriage and the Protection of Rights of Women in Medieval Canon Law. Journal of Humanities, Arts and Social Science, 9(5), 906-910.
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.26855/jhass.2025.05.007