The volume contains two theoretical sections supplemented by case-studies of gender through specific practices such as mysticism, witchcraft, crime, and legal behaviour. The first section, "Concepts", analyzes certain useful notions, such as patriarchy and morality. The second section, "Identities", seeks to deepen this analysis into the studies of female identities in various situations, cultures and dimensions and to show the fluidity and flexibility of what is called femininity nowadays. The third part, "Practises", seeks to rethink the bigger narratives through the case-studies coming from Northern Europe to see how conventional ideas of gender did not work in this particular region. The case studies also challenge the established narratives in such well-research historiographies as witchcraft and sexual offences and at the same time suggest new insights for the developing fields of study, such as history of homicide.
Marianna G. Muravyeva is an Associate Professor of Law at Herzen State Pedagogical University of Russia (St. Petersburg) and a Senior Researcher at the Faculty of Law, University of Helsinki. Her recent English publications include Shame, Blame and Culpability: Crime and Violence in the Modern State, ed. with Judith Rowbotham and David Nash (2012).
Raisa Maria Toivo is a research fellow at the University of Tampere. Her English publications include Witchcraft and Gender in Early Modern Society, Finland and the Wider European Experience (2008).