From Religious to Secular Justice: The Transformation of Legal Treatment of Sexual Misconduct in Colonial Massachusetts

During my second academic year, I continued my exploration of gender dynamics in American legal history. While reading the relevant historical materials about early America, a woman named Mary Latham caught my attention. Her rebellious behavior within marriage and the way the Massachusetts court dealt with her demonstrated the colonial society's understanding, control, and fear of female sexuality. So I continued my research and eventually produced this paper about the transformation in the early American legal system regarding sexual misconduct.

Advisor: Professor Michael Willrich