Debates in Australian History - Essay Example

Debates in Australian History Name Course Name and Code Instructor’s Name Date This paper seeks to discuss, analyse and evaluate the various debates centred on whether the female convicts were worse than the male convicts with regards to Australian history. Evidently, a lot of crime has been seen in the Australian prisons (Lea and Gail, 1993). In addition, the morality of convicts has become a topic of concern(Lea and Gail, 1993; Atkinson, 1978). However, it is not clear who the immoral convicts were. It is apparent that convict transportation lasted for around 80 years. Basically, this was the third foundation of Australia’s urban existence (Atkinson, 1978). It is therefore of paramount that the cultural values left by this people for the subsequent generations to be put into consideration. According to studies, most of the convicts were illiterate and they knew little about their society. It is anticipated that seeing the worst in humanity led to a rebellion that saw Australians seeking for the best (Atkinson, 1978). Evidently, a majority of the Australian convicts were petty criminals by contemporary time standards. These criminals were transported for a period of seven to fourteen years. Apparently, over 75 % of the criminals were transported for the theft of small items or for having received stolen items. A majority however had been confined of a previous offence. In very small numbers were the convicts transported for political activities, physical violence, inciting slaves to rebellion, piracy, murder and desertion from the army. Some of the prisoners were sentenced to life imprisonment (Atkinson, A. 1978). The high gulf in economic wealth experienced in Britain in the 18th century resulted to various adverse impacts some of them being increased poverty amongst the populations(Oxley, 1996). This increased the gap between the rich and the poor resulting to alleviated crime rates (Robson, 1994). As a result, most convicts were shipped to Australia to execute their sentence there, as the prisons in Britain were overcrowded. Female convicts ranged between 100 and 10, 000 while the male convicts were six times this number (Oxley, 1996). The table below shows the number of convicts in New South Wales between 1788 and 1841. Year Males Females Total 1788 529 188 717 1790 297 70 367 1800 1,230 328 1,558 1805 1,561 516 2,077 1819 8,920 1,066 9,986 1828 16,442 1,544 17,986 1836 25,254 2,577 27,831 1841 23,844 3,133 26,977 Total 78,077 9,422 87,099 (Robson, 1994) Although most of the women were convicted of minor offences, for instance, petty theft, research indicates that during the transportation period, these women turned to be prostitutes (Oxley, 1996). Besides, after arriving to Australia, majority of the convicted women turned out to be prostitutes as a means of survival as they were frequently necessitated to provide for themselves such basic requirements as housing, beddings and clothing (Oxley, 1996; (Robson, 1994). This was brought about by the economic and social conditions of colonization, which fostered women as whores, and in fact, between the years 1788 and 1840s majority of the women were termed as whores (Robson, 1994). It is so evident that the women convicts received more punishments that were very different from the punishments given to the male convicts. Right from the year 1978, female criminals could be sentenced to flogging a punishment that was used at a lesser extent to the male convicts (Stivens, D. 1969). Nevertheless, there were exceptions and the punishments been 25 to 50 lashes were often recorded in the 1971 in the Norfolk Island. Elsewhere, there were reports of excessive floggings. Apparently, the major physical punishments given to women included hard labour for instance the use of heavy iron collars which were at times spiked, crushing of rocks and stocks but less commonly. In some instances, some punishments were harsh (Robson, 1994). For instance, a woman who was at the time nursing a child two months old, was charged as being a profligate adulteress since she was not able to prove her charges against her husband for his brutal treatment(Robson, 1994). This particular woman was sentenced to walk miles while carrying a six a six and a quarter pound iron collar around her neck. Another punishment given to the female convicts was head shaving and the short cropping of their hair(Robson, 1994; Stivens, 1969). Clearly, women convicts experienced head shaving as a disfigurement of their person as well as suffered intense humiliation (Stivens, 1969). This is a punishment that was seen to jeopardize women convicts. Therefore, inordinate efforts to discipline, monitor, punish as well as reform the female convicts irrespective of their small proportion were taken(Robson, 1994). According to some scholars, the female convicts were considered to be very essential to the success of transportation primarily as mothers to populate the colonies, domestic service workers and a civilising force to protect society against threats such as homosexuality(Stivens, 1969). In order to mould the female convict, the behaviour, morals as well as every feature of their lives was put under surveillance and control(Stivens, 1969). The reason behind this was so as the female convicts could be transformed into suitable mothers as well as free citizens. Evidently, the systems established to monitor the women were far extensive as those used on the male convicts(Stivens, 1969). On the other hand, studies have revealed that in the year 1833, a child male convict was sentenced to lash due to the accusations that he neglected carrying out his duties by pretending that he was sick (Robson, 1994). According to research, most of the male convicts ran away, neglected their work or got drunk and they were punished by beating (Robson, 1994). According to studies, the male convicts were transported in smaller numbers before the year 1815 (Summers, 1994). However, there after the numbers increased sharply and reached a maximum figure in 1930’s (Summers, 1994). It was clear that the Irish differed greatly from the general picture of the convicts. Studies reveal that the older men than the average felon were married men. Further, the studies revealed that these men were not in trouble with the police as often (Stivens, 1969: (Summers, 1994). It is apparent that most of the ships of convicts included men who had either moved from their places of births for certain reasons. It is apparent that the men from the cities especially those from London demanded more attention (Lea and Gail, 1993). Evidently, the London-tried men were prominent in the beginning of the settlement (Stivens, 1969). These men formed about 25 % of the men being transported. These men were great offenders before the transportation(Stivens, 1969). As indicated by studies, the men were mostly convicted for house breaking, burglary, robbery, animal theft, as well as theft for wearing apparel (Lea and Gail, 1993; Atkinson, 1978). Studies indicate that a majority of the male convicts were transplanted into a setting that offered them an opportunity to earn an honest livelihood as compared to the one back at their homeland(Summers, 1994). This opportunity and the good climate encouraged the male convicts to avoid committing crime. Apparently, some of the male convicts developed materialistic outlook as well as acquisitive values. In Australia, skills were scarce and in very high demand(Robson, 1994). This was a good opportunity for the male convicts as the skilled ones were assigned government service. In addition, they had had a greater measure of power since the authorities were so much dependent on the craftsmen as well as their cooperation to train apprentices. It is evident that a majority of the skilled male convicts performed well out of their penal colonies(Robson, 1994). In conclusion this essay has focussed on whether the female convicts were worse than the male convicts with regards to the Australian history(Summers, 1994). The issue of crime has been of concern in the Australian prisons. For this reason different debates have been provoked with regards to who are the worse convicts between male and female. As indicated by the past and the present researchers, the historians of the convict period have placed their condemnation on the female convicts(Lea and Gail, 1993). It is evident from the essay that the female convicts were involved in moral abuse. Researchers support this claim by the evidence of indiscriminate love making(Summers, 1994). In addition they note that the female convicts and especially those from Britain were used to loose living. However, some scholars disapprove this kind of description for the female convicts. However what is not evident from the historians is the fact they do not appreciate is the fact that the women convicts had no choice about how they were behaving(Lea and Gail, 1993). In addition the historians did not distinguish the extent of the reputation from the extent of the crime. References Atkinson, A. 1978. Whigs and Tories and Botany Bay. Sydney: Hale and Iremonger. Lea, G. W. and Gail, R. 1993.Uncertain beginnings: debates in Australian studies. St. Lucia, Qld: University of Queensland Press. Oxley, D. 1996. Convict maids: the forced migration of women to Australia. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Robson, LL. 1994. The convict settlers of Australia, 2nd Ed. Melbourne, Melbourne University Press. Stivens, D. 1969. Mr. Bloody Kearns. Sydney: A&R. Summers, A. 1994.Damned Whores and God’s police. Read More