History of Feminism

PatSeg

(50,606 posts)

27. There were plenty of horror stories right here in the U.S. as well

Sun Jan 12, 2014, 12:44 PM

Jan 2014

These are stories we rarely hear because the mothers don't talk about them. They were shamed, belittled, and humiliated in ways that affect them the rest of their lives. Added to the humiliation is the intense pain of losing one's child, to never know what happened to him/her. The mothers were not entitled to express their loss and grief, because of their "sins", however.

We all know many women who lived this nightmare, but it is a rare woman who will discuss it. The system that stole babies from their mothers did a really good job of silencing them. I've been involved in adoption groups and I don't think there is a story I haven't heard. There was one woman who was told her baby had died. She never had any other children. The baby girl who DIDN'T die found her 25 years later.

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I saw "Philomena" yesterday. I'm still angry. [View all] CTyankee Jan 2014 OP

Thanks for the rec cinnabonbon Jan 2014 #1

Did you ever see the film the Magdalen Sisters? BainsBane Jan 2014 #2

Yes, saw it. It's hard to watch but excellent. JNelson6563 Jan 2014 #5

I didn't see it yet. It disappeared before I got around to it. CTyankee Jan 2014 #9

see if your library can get it for you niyad Jan 2014 #20

it wasn't just one convent--it was all across england and ireland, and even here in the US niyad Jan 2014 #25

I've seen it..... and it's a great movie! rdharma Jan 2014 #30

Did you mean Steve Coogan dipsydoodle Jan 2014 #3

yes, sorry, I need more coffee this a.m. CTyankee Jan 2014 #7

L O V E him! Especially in Hamlet II PassingFair Jan 2014 #37

Does the film speak of the government's role in the laundries?n/t TexasProgresive Jan 2014 #4

no, that was missing. Perhaps the original story that the journalist wrote does... CTyankee Jan 2014 #10

Here's a snip and link from Feb 2013 TexasProgresive Jan 2014 #21

You want anger? See 12 Years a Slave. Auggie Jan 2014 #6

Exactly! Ugly, open, cruel, heartless all apply to both here! CTyankee Jan 2014 #8

My son told that yesterday. dipsydoodle Jan 2014 #11

Same here. It'll stick with me for a long time, Auggie Jan 2014 #13

I am angry for what the patriarchy has done, and continues to do, to women. and I am angry niyad Jan 2014 #23

It's all heinous, whether ideological, for-profit or ego. Auggie Jan 2014 #28

Steve Coogan is the actor. Bluenorthwest Jan 2014 #12

His performance, along with Dench's, show how well the Brits do this. CTyankee Jan 2014 #15

I love Alan Partridge! If you have Netflix,check out sufrommich Jan 2014 #39

I had a friend who lived it. 1965, 6 months in the "home for unwed mothers" run by nuns. mountain grammy Jan 2014 #14

I worked with a social worker at a women's clinic here in New Haven back in the CTyankee Jan 2014 #16

Joni Mitchell wrote a song about this solara Jan 2014 #17

Thank you so much for sharing that. mountain grammy Jan 2014 #18

I was very happy that I was able to post it solara Jan 2014 #24

+1 glinda Jan 2014 #31

Wow. Thanks for this,never heard of it before. nt sufrommich Jan 2014 #40

still waiting for francis to apologize for the horror of the magdalen laundries, and offer some sort niyad Jan 2014 #19

He would but he's too busy with important stuff like looking humble. Demo_Chris Jan 2014 #22

for those of you with truly strong stomachs (and LOTS of caffeine): the myths of the magdalene niyad Jan 2014 #26

OH, there was a grave scene in the movie that was devastating. The journalist wanders around CTyankee Jan 2014 #32

Bill Donohue is one guy I wouldn't mind seeing fed to a woodchipper... nomorenomore08 Jan 2014 #38

the only trouble with your idea is that there is no way I would use that obscenity for mulch. would niyad Jan 2014 #42

Didn't say it had to be *your* woodchipper... nomorenomore08 Jan 2014 #43

no, you didn't. I was just thinking that one really could not do anything with that mulch. niyad Jan 2014 #45

Give it to a neighbor they hate? I dunno... nomorenomore08 Jan 2014 #46

There were plenty of horror stories right here in the U.S. as well PatSeg Jan 2014 #27

And there are people in this country (even women) who literally want to go back to that. nomorenomore08 Jan 2014 #47

True PatSeg Jan 2014 #48

Right-wing Christians really do see women as disposable. Even as a 14-year-old boy I knew this nomorenomore08 Jan 2014 #49

I don't know why I never thought of that, PatSeg Jan 2014 #50

And once you realize that, you pretty much know there's no negotiating with these freaks. nomorenomore08 Jan 2014 #51

Hey Pope Francis DonCoquixote Jan 2014 #29

that was the infuriating part of this movie, where the nuns are still covering up 50 years later but CTyankee Jan 2014 #33

+2 nomorenomore08 Jan 2014 #44

There was a documentary on the Magdalene Laundries shown on US TV Years ago marew Jan 2014 #34

I have a hard time sitting through those kind of movies ismnotwasm Jan 2014 #35

I was not prepared for the brutality, based on the ads for the movie. CTyankee Jan 2014 #36

I'm glad I'm not the only one. I'm reading this sufrommich Jan 2014 #41