Prćija represents the dowry that the widow brings to the marriage (note: miraz represents what the bride brings to her marriage). As Tomović-Šundić & Gvozdenović (2019:9) explains, in this region, prćija is usually used in an offensive context, because remarriage is seen as a transgression of traditional femininity, it is related to loyalty and devotion to previous husband – exposing women to the social norm of being loyal to one man. As many resent the widow that is remarrying, it is logical that they will resent her for entering a new marriage with the property she may have acquired thanks to her ex-husband (Tomović-Šundić & Gvozdenović 2019:9). Lately, prćija is being more and more used in its metaphorical sense3, showing well the social dynamics. It’s metaphorical meaning goes with the stigma of widowhood, including the stigma of step-mothering, and is related to traditional notions of femininity in Montenegrin society, and the action of the women who challenge these notions. As Tomović-Šundić & Gvozdenović (2019:9) write, this metaphor is very interesting because it belongs to a new metaphor - not to universal metaphor (representing a universal experience), but rather a cultural variation that has arisen from a traditional, cultural, patriarchal dimension.

In this connection, it is very interesting that the beginning of the 21st century - we will use here one metaphor for women’s activity, so we will say - “gives birth” to an anachronistic metaphor culturally specific to previous centuries. The role of the woman is slowly changing, but the same metaphor and perception for her remains.