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Dr Mary Louisa Gordon (1861-1941): A Feminist Approach in Prison

Cheney, Deborah (2010) Dr Mary Louisa Gordon (1861-1941): A Feminist Approach in Prison. Feminist Legal Studies, 18 (2). pp. 115-136. ISSN 0966-3622. (doi:10.1007/s10691-010-9151-4) (The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided) (KAR id:25026)

The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided.
Official URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10691-010-9151-4

Abstract

This article discusses the work of Dr Mary Louisa Gordon, who was appointed as the first English Lady Inspector of Prisons in 1908, and remained in post until 1921. Her attitude towards and treatment of women prisoners, as explained in her 1922 book Penal Discipline, stands in sharp contrast to that of her male contemporaries, and the categorisation of her approach as 'feminist' is reinforced by her documented connections with the suffragette movement. Yet her feminist and suffragist associations also resulted in the marginalisation and dismissal of her work, such that Mary Gordon and Penal Discipline are virtually unknown today. Nevertheless, her insights into the position and needs of women prisoners retain a striking contemporary relevance.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1007/s10691-010-9151-4
Subjects: K Law
Divisions: Divisions > Division for the Study of Law, Society and Social Justice > Kent Law School
Depositing User: Eve Dyer
Date Deposited: 29 Jun 2010 12:47 UTC
Last Modified: 16 Nov 2021 10:03 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/25026 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

University of Kent Author Information

Cheney, Deborah.

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