I just finished Caelainn Hogan’s Republic of Shame: How Ireland Punished ‘Fallen Women’ and Their Children. I picked up the book because of my interest in women, pregnancy, and shame, and because I’ve been thinking a lot about how institutions and societies reckon—or avoid reckoning—with serious wrongs.
My paternal grandmother was a “bastard”. It was a terrible, shameful secret. My grandfather married her and was virtually blacklisted by his family (with the exception of an “eccentric” aunt and her husband.
This bulls!t reached across generations and ruined many lives.
Naturally the sperm contributors of these children were never named and shamed. Only the mothers and children (if they managed to survive long enough to become children) suffered.
And when the Irish Government finally apologised this year, they apologised for GENDER discrimination. It's government policy not to acknowledge that women suffered for their sexed bodies. Only gender matters.
Feminism still has a long way to go before we achieve equality. May the survivors of the abuse and their children find peace and justice. May the perpetrators rot in hell.
Thank you for covering this topic. The Magdelene laundries and mother/baby homes are an example of patriarchy through and through, in this case the Irish Catholic version (having been raised Catholic, I speak from experience -- shame, ignorance, and obedience, that was the Catholic way). The Mosuo of western China wouldn't have a clue why a young woman would be ashamed of having a baby. No such thing there as a "bastard." All children are legitimate as all children have mothers... and grandmothers, aunts, uncles, cousins, siblings, and yes, fathers, if they decide to be more involved with their children by living with their lover's relatives, though fathers aren't put on a pedestal. Actually no one is put on a pedestal, that's the beauty of it. Sadly, so I've heard, society is changing there too, and not for the better. Mass patriarchal cultural influence from greater China due to tourism.
My paternal grandmother was a “bastard”. It was a terrible, shameful secret. My grandfather married her and was virtually blacklisted by his family (with the exception of an “eccentric” aunt and her husband.
This bulls!t reached across generations and ruined many lives.
Naturally the sperm contributors of these children were never named and shamed. Only the mothers and children (if they managed to survive long enough to become children) suffered.
Sounds like what the majority on the Supreme Court wants for the US now.
And when the Irish Government finally apologised this year, they apologised for GENDER discrimination. It's government policy not to acknowledge that women suffered for their sexed bodies. Only gender matters.
wow. wtf.
Were Irish foundlings treated worse than English? German Lutherans? Muslim?
Feminism still has a long way to go before we achieve equality. May the survivors of the abuse and their children find peace and justice. May the perpetrators rot in hell.
Let the matriarchy rise again.
Thank you for covering this topic. The Magdelene laundries and mother/baby homes are an example of patriarchy through and through, in this case the Irish Catholic version (having been raised Catholic, I speak from experience -- shame, ignorance, and obedience, that was the Catholic way). The Mosuo of western China wouldn't have a clue why a young woman would be ashamed of having a baby. No such thing there as a "bastard." All children are legitimate as all children have mothers... and grandmothers, aunts, uncles, cousins, siblings, and yes, fathers, if they decide to be more involved with their children by living with their lover's relatives, though fathers aren't put on a pedestal. Actually no one is put on a pedestal, that's the beauty of it. Sadly, so I've heard, society is changing there too, and not for the better. Mass patriarchal cultural influence from greater China due to tourism.
Sad. Thanks for sharing