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Even though male and female convicts were transported to Australian colonies from 1788 to 1840, their experiences throughout this period were remarkably different. This essay will attempt to compare and contrast the experiences of both female and male convicts transported to Australian colonies from 1788 to 1840. L. L Robson states that, between 1788 and 1840 over 24 960 female convicts and 122 620 male convicts were transported to Australia.
Even though both male and female convicts suffered at the hands of their government, their experiences differed greatly. This could be seen as early as the loading of the convicts onto the transportation vessels, and also how these convicts were treated during transportation and the comforts afforded to them. Women were transported for petty crimes, such as the theft of food and clothing which were committed for survival, rather than social gains, where as the criminal acts committed by their male counterparts were more likely to be acts of violence or for social advantage. The types of punishments endured by female convicts for their crimes were more psychological and degrading than those endured by their male counterparts. The employment of male and female convicts highlights another area in which gender plays a significant role in the experiences of these people. The majority of female convicts were seen as unfit for hard labour and were required to perform domestic services and chores, where as male convicts were employed in hard or skilled labour.
By looking at the transportation of female and male convicts to Australia, from 1788 to 1840 many differences of their experiences on board can be found. The first and perhaps major difference was that women had to be separated from the males on board the ship. Separation was found necessary aboard the transportation vessels, as women were seen to be less desirable for marriage or work if they were found to be pregnant upon their arrival at Australia. It was stated by Surgeon White that, during the First Fleet the desire of the women to be with the men was so uncontrollable that neither shame nor the fear of punishment could deter them from making their way to the apartments of assigned seaman. By examining this statement, one can believe that it was the women who had to be separated, that they forced themselves onto any male aboard ship, and that the males aboard ship had a passive role in the matter. After 1811, female convicts were transported on separate ships from male convicts.
Transporting the female convicts separately to male convicts highlighted the belief that the women were whores and how the government regarded them as a necessity for the new colony; as long as they were not pregnant they were a benefit to the colony. Another difference during transportation can be found by looking at what materials or comforts were available to the all convicts. All convicts were allocated blankets, mattresses, pillows and wooden eating utensils. But Make states that men were issued with new clothes, jackets, shirts, trousers, stockings and shoes. Women never received new clothes for the journey to Australia, this can found in Clarks description of Philips letter to Nepean, which states clothing was issued for the men. But clothing for the women never arrived.
It remains unknown whether the female convicts received any needed items to endure the journey to the colony, or if they even received the same supplies as male convicts on the voyages. The transgressions that women were transported for were different to those committed by males. Women often committed petty crimes such as the theft of food and clothing just to survive. However, men often committed crimes which involved forgery and robbery to gain respect and advance their position in society. Mens crimes were often vicious and were committed against society, whereas womens crimes were less malicious and were mainly committed out of necessity. Weidenhofer states that, only the more hardened male offenders under sentence of transportation were actually transported to the colonies, all women under sentence, provided they were healthy and under forty five were transported.
From this statement one can assume that female convicts were severely disadvantaged by this policy. Female convicts were transported not solely due to the crimes they committed, but because of their gender, as the colony required more women, whereas male convicts were transported only because of their crimes. Another obvious difference in the type of punishment experienced by female convicts was that of flogging. Women were not permitted to be flogged, The flogging of female convicts. was abandoned because there were certain seasons when such a mode of punishment could not be inflicted with attention to decency. It could be said that women had an unfair advantage over the men in relation to not being flogged due to natural phenomenons.
However, since the government could not use such physical punishment as flogging on female convicts, they devised another punishment which combined the physical punishment with psychological punishment. The combination of these punishments can be seen in the act of shaving their heads. Damousi places considerable emphasis on head shaving, Head shaving became a way in which women could be shamed, and womens feminine dignity could be undermined. For years women believed that their hair was their crowning glory and prided themselves on the length of their hair. By taking away their hair, the government took away the female convicts femininity and pride. Another form of physiological punishment forced upon female convicts was the placement of an iron collar.
The collar that was placed around necks of female convicts weighed roughly 14 - 15 pounds and had riveted to it two long prongs that measured from 1 foot to 18 inches, which protruded from each side of the collar. This was considered a suitable mode of apparel for what was in the 1812 Select Committees opinion a herd of prime breeders. It suggests that punishments were not only psychological and degrading but also showed the women their place in the colony as breeders. Both male and female convicts were forced to work under their governments.
However, female and male convict experiences of employment were also different. Female convict labour consisted of domestic service; they cared for households and settlers children. Male convict labour was more physical and consisted of the construction of roads and shelters. Although many women were skilled or educated, they were still viewed as prostitutes by the hierarchy in the colony.
Many women came to Australia with known occupations; we can gain information on female occupations from the itemization of women on the First Fleet. While 65 % were domestic servants, there were also milliners, hawkers, lace-weavers, silk-weavers and needle workers. The differences between the types of labour that were forced upon male and female convicts in the colony could be said to have set the basis for the working ideals found in the Australian society today. Male convicts work consisted of hard labour and was physical, which the convict physic was suited for. In contrast women had more domestic roles, which included the rearing of children and household chores. Therefore it could be conceived that convict manual labour was based on gender.
In conclusion, the experiences of female convicts differed greatly to those experiences of male convicts. These differences can be seen in the different ways that the female and male convicts were transported and their treatment once the vessels began their journeys. The punishments endured by the convicts were all meant to cause physical discomfort, but the female punishments were aimed more towards psychological harm. Female convicts were punished for minor crimes whereas male convicts were punished for acts of a malicious nature.
Therefore it can be said that the government had different standards of law for male and female convicts. Work during 1788 through to 1840, was predominately gender orientated, which could be seen by the work that male and female convicts endured. The experiences of male and female convicts during 1788 - 1840 were based on gender and the ideals of the government. BIBLIOGRAPHY Buckley, K and Wheelwright, T. (1988) No Paradise for Workers, Melbourne: Oxford University Press. Clark, C. M.
H. (1971) A History of Australia, Melbourne: University Press. Damousi, J. (1996) Beyond the Origins Debate: Theorising Sexuality and Gender Disorder in Convict Womens History: Daniels, K. (1998) Convict Women, Sydney: Allen and Unwin. Dixon, M. (1994) The Real Matilda, Victoria: Penguin Books. Kociumbas, J. The Oxford History of Australia Robson, L.
L. (1994) The Convict Settlers of Australia, Victoria: UCL Press Limited. Rogers Kotlowski, E (1994) Southland of the Holy Spirit: A Christian History of Australia, Orange: J. Bell Pty. Ltd. Shaw, A. G.
L. (1966) Convicts and Colonies: A Study of Penal Transportation from Great Britain and Ireland to Australia and Other Parts of the British Empire, London: Faber. Summers, A. (1975) Damned Whores and Gods Police: The Colonization of Women in Australia, Melbourne: Penguin. Phillips, V. (1982) The Making of Australia, Prisoners and Gallery, Kensington: Bay Books. Weidenhofer, M. (1973) The Convict Years, Transportation and The Penal System 1788 - 1868, Melbourne: Lansdowne Press.
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