Maritime Archetypes of Montenegrin Women: Heroism and Solitude
In the latest scientific paper titled Maritime Archetypes of Montenegrin Women: Heroism and Solitude, author Prof. Dr. Milena Dževerdanović Pejović, from the Maritime Faculty in Kotor, explores the roles of Montenegrin women through a historical, cultural, and linguistic lens. From the wives of sailors to women who assumed traditionally male roles during turbulent times, the study also reflects on contemporary challenges and gender stereotypes.
Here, we highlight selected translated excerpts from the scientific paper published in the international journal Acta Histriae (SCI, SCIE, SSCI, A&HCI). These segments provide an intriguing archetypal portrayal of women in Montenegro—a blend of heroism and solitude, deeply rooted in the cultural and historical context of the region (the Bay of Kotor, Montenegro’s interior, and northern areas of the country).
Stories of Waiting and Solitude
"The narrative of the Bay of Kotor often emphasizes themes of waiting and solitude, particularly regarding the lives of women on the coast.
The lack of historical records on the wives of Montenegrin sailors and their roles in society has led to an insufficient appreciation of their contributions, especially during the two world wars. The folklore of the Bay of Kotor reflects a deep sense of introspection, uncertainty, and contemplation surrounding the lives of sailors wives. A woman might wait for her sailor to return for up to 15 years (Šeferović, 2014). This archetype of women from Boka, condemned to waiting, is memorialized in a church on one of the two islets near the small town of Perast. The story of Jacinta Kunić is one of the most striking examples of women whose destinies began and ended with waiting. But what is a woman from Boka? A woman who waits (Šeferović, 2014, p. 80).
One of the most famous legends illustrating the solitude and tragic fate of women who wait is the story of The Three Sisters, or, as it is commonly known in Boka, Tre Sorelle. This legend is associated with an abandoned villa in the local settlement of Prčanj.
The stories of solitude experienced by women in the Bay of Kotor are documented in Živko Nikolićs 1977 documentary film Women Are Waiting. This documentary was filmed in the Bay of Kotor, among the old stone walls of maritime houses. As the distant sound of a ship’s horn echoed over the water, women lived through a profound sense of silence and solitude, reflecting their way of life (Rakonjac, 2021, p. 436). Some interviews from the documentary contain the following statements:"
(Text continues with excerpts from the interviews, as per the original context.)
It is very difficult to raise children without men, especially boys. You have to be strong. Sometimes, when the father returns home, the children do not recognize him because they only remember him from a photograph. [...] I prefer staying at home rather than going out, because if I go out alone, someone might say: ‘Look at her, he’s suffering at sea, and she’s out walking with her friends.’ I couldn’t bear such rumours. (Rakonjac, 2021, p. 436).
Another sailor’s wife says she prefers staying at home and waiting because if she goes for a walk, especially after 7 p.m., it might be misinterpreted—“I hear music from the balcony of a nearby hotel.” Then, she sees other women walking with their husbands, and sometimes, when she walks alone on the street, she feels uncomfortable.
Beyond the narratives filled with loneliness and melancholy, the faces of women waiting for their husbands “speak more than words; their inner drama is painted on both youthful and wrinkled faces” (Rakonjac, 2021, p. 436).
In the era of globalization and active online communities, along with the support of organizations advocating for women in the maritime sector (Women in Maritime, 2021), women now more frequently share their experiences through blogs or personal stories. Notable websites discovered during this research are dedicated to supporting sailors’ wives in various areas, such as health, social life, and family matters. One example is the article Advice for Seafarers’ Wives, Partners, and Families (The Mission to Seafarers, 2024).
The rise of online spaces for sailors’ wives has enabled women to share their concerns, particularly regarding the challenges of a maritime lifestyle. Writing about these challenges has fostered shared group values and perspectives, such as portraying seafarers as heroes. For example, a Chinese wife expressed relief upon discovering that her partner had a community supporting his life at sea (Tang, 2010).
Findings on the experiences of sailors’ wives are largely consistent, highlighting issues such as women’s social isolation, emotional labour, and the stress caused by their partner’s lifestyle (Thomas, 2003). Regardless of location, sailors’ wives in the UK, China, and India require the support of networks (Thomas, 2003; Thomas, Sampson, & Minghua, 2003). Sailors’ wives bear the responsibility not only for the success of their husbands’ careers but also for preserving the customs and traditions of maritime communities, particularly in patriarchal cultures with rich maritime heritage, as is the case with the island of Chios (Katsounas, 2010; Lekakou & Paradeisi, 2020). The situation is similar in the Philippines, where a sailor’s wife plays a key role in organizing social and family activities and nurturing kinship ties (Sampson & Acejo, 2016).
Countries with maritime traditions erect monuments to sailors’ wives as a gesture of gratitude for their patience and sacrifice (Yur & Nas, 2012). These monuments are often created as works of art, usually statues placed in prominent coastal locations. Notable examples include the Little Mermaid statue in Copenhagen, the Fishermen’s Wives Memorial in Gloucester (Massachusetts) (depicting a woman with two children), and the Sailors’ Wives Monument in Novorossiysk (depicting a woman with a child looking out to sea).
In Montenegro, the bronze Ballerina statue in Budva, often symbolically compared to the Little Mermaid statue in Copenhagen, conveys a sense of loneliness and longing. According to legend, the sculpture tells the story of a girl who waited for her sailor fiancé, who never returned from the sea."
Maritime Heroines
"In the second half of the 18th century, there were 16 female sailors in Herceg Novi within the Bay of Kotor (Vijesti, 2012). Considering that maritime voyages in the past could last for decades, it is significant to note that Mara, the wife of Captain Milišić, sailed with her husband on two ships for nearly ten years (Palavršić, 2018, p. 184).
Women participated in local fishing activities in the Bay of Kotor and were known for their diligent work and skills. However, their role was primarily focused on tasks such as net weaving, repairing fishing nets, and transporting fish to nearby markets, rather than fishing itself (Pešić et al., 2016). Women from Boka, particularly those from higher social classes, were renowned for their craftsmanship (Dabižinović, 2018, p. 15). Their husbands would bring expensive materials, lace, and fabrics from their voyages, and women, especially from the upper echelons of society, were known for their elegant and urban appearance, often wearing dresses made from luxurious materials adorned with gold and silk (Radojičić, 2009).
Nevertheless, the image of women in the Bay of Kotor is equally heroic. Sailors’ wives raised their children alone, as their husbands maritime voyages could last for years. The Montenegrin term for the wife of a high-ranking captain is kapetanica ("female captain"), a Romance borrowing adopted into the local vernacular, dating back to the period of Old Montenegro and the Highlands (Tešić, 2017). This term usually referred to women who stayed at home, raised the family, and awaited their husbands return (Dževerdanović Pejović, 2017).
The official documentation of women’s roles in maritime organizations in the Bay of Kotor is not well preserved, as the navy was primarily a male-dominated organization. However, women often accompanied their husbands and participated in local events, frequently wearing traditional ceremonial attire reminiscent of Venetian style.
For more interesting details about women in the maritime sector today, you can refer to the scientific paper.
The information in this excerpt was sourced from the list of scientific papers by the University of Montenegro."