Lawrence Public Library

The trials of Nina McCall, sex, surveillance, and the decades-long government plan to imprison "promiscuous" women, Scott Wasserman Stern

eng

Includes bibliographical references (pages 275-341) and index

index present

non fiction

The trials of Nina McCall

bibliography

1001756017

Scott Wasserman Stern

sex, surveillance, and the decades-long government plan to imprison "promiscuous" women

In 1918, shortly after her eighteenth birthday, Nina McCall was told to report to the local health officer to be examined for sexually transmitted infections. Confused and humiliated, Nina did as she was told, and the health officer performed a hasty (and invasive) examination and quickly diagnosed her with gonorrhea. Insisting she could not possibly have an STI, Nina was coerced into committing herself to the Bay City Detention Hospital, where she would spend almost three miserable months subjected to hard labor, exploitation, and painful injections of mercury. And she wasn't alone-- thousands of women and girls were locked up (usually without due process) simply because officials suspected these women were prostitutes, carrying STDs, or just 'promiscuous.' Stern tells the story of this almost forgotten program-- which lasted into the 1950s-- through the life of Nina McCall. -- adapted from jacket

Introduction : Young lady, do you mean to call me a liar? -- Willing to go to jail for such a cause -- Less fortunate sisters -- Waging war on the women -- Reaching the whole country -- It was too late -- Why should a woman be imprisoned for a disease? -- We will get even yet -- When righteous women arise -- Hunting for girls -- We defeat ourselves -- The situation seems to be getting worse -- A total war -- Venereal disease was not our concern