The convents, asylums, and laundries that once comprised the Magdalene institutions are the subject of this examination of "Magdaleneism." Though originally half-way homes for prostitutes in the Middle Ages, these homes often became forced-labor institutions, particularly in Ireland. Examining the laundries within the context of a growing world capitalist economy, the work argues that the process of colonization, and of defining a national image, determined the nature and longevity of the Magdalene Laundries. This process developed differently in England, where the last laundry closed in...

A Compelling perspective on Modern Sexuality
Which of these statements are true? Babies come from pumpkin seeds. Diaphragms are slippery when wet. Women who use birth control are sluts.
With a critical and humorous outlook, McCarthy investigates female sexuality, from childhood to menopause; gender mythology; and true to life experiences: Where do babies come from, puberty, birth control failures, reproductive knowledge, silence regarding sexual assault, image and aging, sex and politics, as well as the life of sluts and crones.
Pulling from variety of sources including news...