Navigating Adversity: Women's Strategies in Crypto-Religious Communities

The paper explores the survival strategies of crypto-religious minorities within the forced mono-confessional pre-modern Crown of Aragon. It introduces a novel comparative framework, focusing on the strategies employed by female members: Conversas and Moriscas, Christian women of Jewish and Muslim origin, respectively. These strategies are examined as they navigate the complexities of preserving their contested identities amidst religious violence within the inquisitorial tribunals of Barcelona, Valencia, and Zaragoza from the late 15th to the mid-17th centuries. Employing an interdisciplinary and intersectional methodological approach, the study investigates the strategies adopted by these women to negotiate religious violence and maintain their identities. Through analysis of religious practice preservation, coping mechanisms, and negotiation tactics, the research unveils the resilience of these communities. By shedding light on the challenges faced by women in preserving cultural heritage amidst religious persecution, it highlights the intricate interplay of gender, religion, and social status within crypto-religious minorities.