Photo by Johann Walter Bantz on Unsplash

Cases: father of the bride receives a monetary payment for the marriage from the groom's family (criminal law)

---

Cultural test

Legal Insights

Anthropological insights

Proposed balancing act: the hermeneutics of the fact made in the light of the findings of anthropology excludes that bride price is a sale of person, therefore cultural law must prevail as no value protected by criminal law is violated.

---

Bibliographic references

​Legal Bibliography
 
Carrelli, L. (2022). L’incerto rilievo del fattore culturale nella dogmatica del reato. Cassazione Penale, fasc. 7-8, 2682-2693.
Motta, V. I. (2022). Il rapporto tra reati di cui agli artt. 558-bis e 600 c.p. e l’irrilevanza del movente culturale nel delitto di riduzione in schiavitù. Cassazione Penale, n.1, 204–209.
 
Anthropological bibliography (recommended reading):
 
Anderson, S. (2007). The Economics of Dowry and Brideprice. Journal of Economic Perspectives, 21(4), 151-174. Link.
 
The article is fundamental to gaining an insight into the spread of the practice in various cultural contexts and the various meanings it can take on. It is a list of the social contexts in which the practice of bride-price is widespread, accompanied by an explanation of some of the symbolic values the practice has assumed and assumes today.
 
Tosi Cambini, S. (2015). Matrimoni romané e interpretazioni gagikané nello spazio pubblico, giuridico e scientifico dei gagé. L’Uomo, 2015(1), 55-76. Link.
 
The article is useful for understanding the symbolic value of marriage in Roma culture and for understanding the centrality of the family in defining social norms. In addition, the author accurately explains the case of an alleged forced marriage that, upon proper anthropological observation, proved not to be such.
 
Anthropological bibliography (for more details):
 
C Comaroff, J. L. (1980). "Introduction." In The Meaning of Marriage Payments (Ed. J.L. Comaroff), pp. 45-9. New York, Academic Press.
Fèlix, A., & Ballista, M. (2008). “Il caso del matrimonio gitano.” Minoranze, 107.
Goody, J., & Tamblah, S. J. (1981). Ricchezza della sposa e dote. Milano, Angeli.
Kuper, A. (2016). “Traditions of kinship, marriage and bridewealth in Southern Africa” Anthropology Southern Africa, 39(4), 267-280.
Leeson, P. T. (2013). “Gypsy Law.” Public Choice, 155, 273-292.
Okely, J. (1995). "Donne zingare. Modelli in conflitto." In L. Piasere (Ed.), Comunità girovaghe, comunità zingare. Napoli, Liguori Editore.
Pamporov, A. (2007). “Sold like a donkey? Bride-price among the Bulgarian Roma.” Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute, 13, 471-476.
Piasere, L. (2018). I rom d’Europa. Una storia moderna. Bari-Roma, Laterza.
Thompson, T. W. (1992). “Gypsy Marriage in England.” Journal of the Gypsy Lore Society, 1(III), 1-13.
Tosi Cambini, S. (2008). La zingara rapitrice. Racconti, denunce, sentenze (1986-2007). Roma, CISU.
Tosi Cambini, S. (2015). “Matrimoni romane e interpretazioni gagikane nello spazio pubblico, giuridico e scientifico dei gage. “ L’Uomo Società Tradizione Sviluppo, 1.