Encomienda and Gender in Colonial America

Overview of Encomienda Studies

• The encomienda system has been a significant topic in studies of colonial America, leading to extensive historiographical production with various approaches, including legal functioning, production behavior, and impact on indigenous populations.

• Recent studies have faced challenges due to a scarcity of sources, prompting the use of new methodologies such as reinterpreting existing sources and seeking new ones. Notable works include those by Camilo Alexander Zambrano and Liliana Pérez de Miguel.

Role of Women in Encomienda

• Women were present from the inception of the encomienda institution despite initial ties to male-led conquests. They included Spanish, indigenous, mestiza, and criolla women.

• While some women received encomiendas directly for their contributions during conquests (e.g., Inés Pérez), most accessed them through inheritance, often being elite indigenous women who needed protection after imperial collapses.

Legal Framework and Responsibilities

• Inheritance laws established that if there were no legitimate heirs, the encomienda would pass to the widow; daughters were also recognized as potential heirs alongside sons.

• The primary responsibilities of encomenderas included protecting and evangelizing their indigenous subjects while collecting tribute. They had to appoint a male squire for defense due to being deemed incapable.

Economic Challenges and Adaptations

• Many encomenderas struggled financially despite receiving tributes from their encomiendas. This led some like Doña Inés Muñoz to establish textile workshops (obrajes) due to shortages in early Spanish America.

• Doña Jordana Mejía founded another workshop but faced operational halts due to restrictions imposed by Viceroy Toledo on using indigenous labor.

Diverse Contributions Across Sectors

• Encomenderas also engaged in livestock farming; notable figures include Doña Florencia de Mora y Escobar with significant cattle ranches.

• Some women introduced agricultural innovations such as wheat and olives into Peru, cultivating valuable crops that were previously unavailable.

Social Influence and Legacy

• Women often had a year-long window post-inheritance before needing to remarry; widows did not face similar pressures but frequently remarried multiple times.

The Role of Women in Colonial Society

Contributions to Religious Institutions

• In her later years, the subject led a peaceful and religious life alongside her husband, significantly contributing to the construction of various religious temples, including the Temple of La Merced.

• Their efforts also extended to supporting their order and aiding in the establishment of the Hermita de Monserrat located in the Chimba neighborhood.

Access to Encomienda

• From the early colonial period, women from different ethnic backgrounds gained access to encomienda through direct grants or inheritance.

• This access allowed them to form a small minority within the encomendero group, which was consistently present throughout history.