Life was quite difficult for Convict women. Most were sentenced in England for minor crimes such as pick pocketing or theft. As punishment, not only were they exported from their country, many were forced to endure of a life of sexual exploitation. On the ships to Australia, the prettiest were rumoured to have been shared amongst the military officers. Upon arrival in Australia, the women were lined up like cattle to be selected as servants or wives. If they didn’t become either, a life of prostitution was their only real hope for survival.
The Lady Juliana was the first Convict ship to be primarily for women. It had been "opened" on the ports on the way to Australia thus became known as "the floating brothel." It arrived in Port Jackson in 1790. As the women were disembarked, a drunkard orgy broke out. Sailors and Convicts were in and around the women's tents, some queuing for sex, others made love with women they had forged attachments on the voyage. Perhaps the women were willing parties in the orgy, but if they weren’t, they probably didn’t have much choice other than to go along. Either way, the Convict women became known as depraved and immoral. One witness to the orgy wrote,
“The women, cooped up on the voyage and for another 10 hot and intolerable days outside Sydney Cove, had not too many chaste figures among them.”
Because the women carried a very negative stigma, morals crusaders often tried to educate them regarding the folly of their ways. Women who simply stood in a “immoral” pose risked having their heads shaved and being forced to wear a collar around their neck as a mark of disgrace.
The most difficult women were sent to female factories, which were forced labour camps. Here they continued to be educated about the virtues of morality. At the Cascades Female Factory in 1838, the moralising became too much for the women and they decided to make a point. The governor of Van Diemens Land visited the factory and attended a service in the chapel. Entertaining the governor was the Reverend William Bedford; a morals campaigner whose hypocrisy had elicited the lady's scorn. Keen to impress the governor with a fine speech, the Bedford addressed the women from an elevated dais, then:
"the three hundred women turned right around and at one impulse pulled up their clothes showing their naked posteriors which they simultaneously smacked with their hands making a loud and not very musical noise. This was the work of a moment, and although constables, warders etc. were there in plenty, yet 300 women could not well be all arrested and tried for such an offence and when all did the same act the ringleaders could not be picked out."
This cheeky behaviour 'horrified and astounded' the governor and the male members of the party. As for the ladies in the governor's party, it was said, in a rare moment of collusion with the Convict women, 'could not control their laughter'.
On another occasion, Reverend Bedford was crossing the courtyard of the Female House of Correction, when "some dozen or twenty women seized upon him, took off his trousers and deliberately endeavoured to deprive him of his manhood. They were, however, unable to effect their purpose in consequence of the opportune arrival of a few constables who seized the fair ladies and place them in durance vile. "
The hardships endured by the women seemed to build a strong sense of female solidarity. The women sang songs, which were often labelled “very disgusting.” When matrons tried to separate agitators from the group, the entire group would sometimes chant “we are all alike, we are all alike.” Not only did the actions protect individual women, they also made Convict life a bit more bearable. The True Colonist reported in 1837 that while the 'horrors of the crime class' had shocked the inhabitants of Van Diemen's Land, what was more disagreeable to moral evangelical sensibilities was the fact that many women prefer this class to the others, because it is more lively! There is more fun there than in the others; and we have been informed, that some of the most sprightly of the ladies divert their companions by acting plays! "
As if often the case, out of something bad, came something good. The hardships endured by the Convict women seemed to build an ethic to alleviate the hardships in others. Successful Convict women such as Molly Morgan never forgot their own hardships earlier in life, and donated freely to establish schools, hospitals, and even churches. Free immigrants like Caroline Chisholm also decided to do something about the suffering she saw around her. She took some women into her house and travelled the colony to find employment for others. Within two years she had found employment and accommodation for over a thousand women and girls. She then went on to found the Family Colonisation Loan Society to help break the cycle of dependence and poverty. Chisolm’s compassion always came with strings attached. In her hostels, she employed a tough love approach in which she made it clear that guests should never get too comfortable because they should be out looking for a job.
Mother Mary McKillop was another whose compassion probably flowed from seeing the horrors of the day. Mary took a vow of personal poverty and always shared the hardships of the people she was trying to help. She was able to personally survive largely because people helped her as well. A society that started off as one in which everyone looked out for themselves, evolved into one in which people started looking out for others.
activity one – Mooning the Reverend
Activity purpose – To understand how defiance may be expressed in non-violent means
In 1838, the governor of Van Diemens Land visited the Cascades Female Factory. Entertaining the governor was the Reverend William Bedford. Keen to impress the governor with a fine speech, Bedford addressed the women from an elevated dais, then:
"the three hundred women turned right around and at one impulse pulled up their clothes showing their naked posteriors which they simultaneously smacked with their hands making a loud and not very musical noise. This was the work of a moment, and although constables, warders etc. were there in plenty, yet 300 women could not well be all arrested and tried for such an offence and when all did the same act the ringleaders could not be picked out."
What does their show of defiance indicate how
The reaction of women to moralising by men?
The lack of alternative avenues to express a viewpoint?
The level of camaraderie between the women?
Activity two - Remembering history
Activity purpose – To consider how perceptions of history are not always consistent with the reality of history, but are intertwined nevertheless
1) The above picture is commonly sold in Tasmanian tourist locations. Why do you think people today feel it is a story worth remembering?
2) The conduct of the women was highly disrespectful and rude. Do you think their act should not be discussed for fear of glorifying it?
3) It is generally believed that Australia was a conservative society in the 19th century. What does the behaviour of the women suggest?
Activity 3 – Critical analysis of text
Activity purpose – To consider how concern about female sexual morality can be used to blind an audience about severe human rights violations
Have a look at the account of female Convicts landing in Australia:
Port Jackson, Feb 6 1790. Scenes of riot and debauchery after the disembarkation of the women convicts tonight transformed Sydney cove into something resembling a gin palace attached to a brothel.
All this took place at night during a violent storm with lightening bolts which, at one place, split a tree in half, killing five sheep and a pig that were penned below it.
The licentious merriment began when some merchant seamen requested some grog from their captain. No doubt the man had good reason to comply, in the relief at getting rid of the last of his convicts, as he had faced a penalty of £40 for every convict missing.
Soon the sailors and convicts were in and around the women's tents, some queuing for sex, others making love with women they had forged attachments on the voyage. Others were swearing, fighting or singing.
While the scene was deplorable no action by the Governor nor his officers. Presumably they thought that intervention would have provoked a serious riot, and that it was best to wait for the morning to re-establish order.
The women, cooped up on the voyage and for another 10 hot and intolerable days outside Sydney Cove, had not too many chaste figures among them.”
Consider the following questions:
What do you think Aborigines would have thought of the scene?
The text uses the word ‘presumably’ when explaining why the Governor took no action. Why do you think the author felt it necessary to presume the Governor’s thoughts? What do you presume the Governor was thinking?
The author mentions storms, lightening bolts and the death of animals. Why do you think these things were mentioned?
The author wrote, “some queuing for sex, others making love with women they had forged attachments on the voyage.” What does this imply about whether the women agreed to the sex? Do you think they would have had a choice? What do you think the women's motivations were?
What attitudes to women can be inferred from the following sentence: “The women, cooped up on the voyage and for another 10 hot and intolerable days outside Sydney Cove, had not too many chaste figures among them.”
Consider the sentence: “No doubt the man had good reason to comply, in the relief at getting rid of the last of his convicts, as he had faced a penalty of £40 for every convict missing.” How could Convicts go missing on a ship? What does the choice of the word ‘missing’ over possible alternatives imply?
Activity 4 - Brief history in film
Why do you think so many Convict women came from Ireland?
What role in the Colony were the Convict women expected to serve?
