Dal 1896 al 1964 il Canada ha incarcerato migliaia di donne senza processo se sospettate di “comportamenti sociali indesiderati”, come rapporti prematrimoniali o relazioni interrazziali; le hanno mandate in carceri di riforma, dove venivano percosse e drogate per imparare la sottomissione.

Riformatorio Andrew Mercer per Donne

La casa originale del sovrintendente del Mercer Reformatory sopravvive a Fraser e King.

The Andrew Mercer Reformatory for Women was a women’s (16 years of age or older) prison in Toronto, Canada. At various times, the facility was also known as the Mercer Complex, Andrew Mercer Reformatory for Females, and Andrew Mercer Ontario Reformatory for Females.

Storia

Located on King Street West in Toronto, Ontario, it opened in 1872 with the idealistic promise of a “homelike„ atmosphere for its inmates.

One of the major tenets of the reformatory was to instill feminine Victorian virtues such as obedience and servility.

Work, such as cooking, baking, and cleaning, was also a major part of prison life. According to one superintendent… Continua a leggere (lettura di 4 minuti)