This Friday evening at the Kursaal Fleet center in Monòver, a presentation will unfold around the article titled “Fadrines. The unmarriage process in traditional Valencian society.” The discussion will be hosted by a team of researchers and organizers connected to local cultural institutions.
The term “Fadrines” refers to a single woman of marriageable age who is expected to marry, yet who may pursue a choice of her own. The presented piece advances a working proposal that examines the social space in which single women have historically been guided away from marriage and family duties, often sidelined from productive labor, childrearing, and caregiving. Through ethnographic exploration, the study makes visible three distinct feminine roles that society attributes to all women and investigates how being in or out of these roles shapes personal and social life, including the influence on status, context, and community relationships.
The presentation will feature an anthropologist and writer connected to a regional library collection that focuses on Valencian cultural heritage. The event highlights collaborative efforts with local ethnological institutions and cultural development bodies that support community learning and scholarly exchange.
Valencia Ethnological Museum (ETNO) and the regional Ministry of Culture provide support, while the city council’s cultural programs help bring the discourse to a broader audience. The event is organized by Terres del Vinalopó in partnership with language initiatives and Escola Valenciana, emphasizing access to ethnographic knowledge in multiple linguistic contexts.
book club
Following the same article’s presentation, a feminist reading group will convene to discuss the work in depth. The gathering will take place in a Valencian-speaking setting and will travel between different venues, reflecting the project’s mobile and inclusive approach to scholarly discussion. The reading initiative serves as a space for collective reflection on gender roles, social expectations, and cultural history, inviting participants to engage with the material in a collaborative manner.
The discussion will occur within an enclosed community space that hosts book club sessions on other occasions, highlighting the Torre del Rico library as a cultural landmark and a hub for ongoing, accessible cultural activities. This setup enables broader participation and supports diverse interpretations of the text as it unfolds within local contexts.
Note: The event series emphasizes intergenerational dialogue, cross-cultural perspectives, and the democratization of ethnographic knowledge, inviting readers to consider how historical social norms shape contemporary experiences for Valencian communities and beyond. At the core is a commitment to sharing nuanced insights about marriage, autonomy, and social belonging within Valencian society, while fostering critical discussion about how traditions adapt to modern identities. (citation: ETNO, Valencia Ethnological Museum; collaboration with cultural ministries and community organizations)