Kōrero: Prisons

Jane O'Meara

Jane O'Meara

This police photo shows Jane O'Meara, who was sentenced to four months in prison for brothel-keeping and theft in October 1908. Relatively few women were imprisoned during the 19th and early 20th centuries. Female criminals directly contradicted the stereotype of women as demure homemakers and moral guardians. Women prisoners were therefore often regarded as incorrigible 'degenerates', beyond hope of reformation. This attitude particularly applied to prostitutes, female alcoholics and other 'rowdy women', who lived publicly disorderly lives.

Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi

New Zealand Police Museum

This item has been provided for private study purposes (such as school projects, family and local history research) and any published reproduction (print or electronic) may infringe copyright law. It is the responsibility of the user of any material to obtain clearance from the copyright holder.

Ngā whakaahua me ngā rauemi katoa o tēnei kōrero

Te tuhi tohutoro mō tēnei whārangi:

Peter Clayworth, 'Prisons - Women in prison', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/mi/photograph/36779/jane-omeara (accessed 30 March 2024)

He kōrero nā Peter Clayworth, i tāngia i te 20 Jun 2012