Legal Definitions - waivery

Definition: Waivery is a historical term that refers to the act of putting a woman outside the protection of the law. In the past, women were not considered "in law" and could not undertake legal proceedings on their own. Therefore, they could not be outlawed like men. Instead, the act of waiving a woman was used to achieve the same effect as outlawing a man.

Example: In medieval England, if a woman committed a crime, she could not be punished in the same way as a man. Instead, she would be subjected to waivery, which meant that she was no longer protected by the law and could be punished by anyone.

Explanation: This example illustrates how waivery was used to put women outside the protection of the law. Because women were not considered "in law," they could not be outlawed like men. Instead, waivery was used to achieve the same effect. This meant that women could be punished by anyone, which put them at great risk.