Citation

Bourke J. Can. J. Irish Stud. 2020; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2020, School of Irish Studies at Concordia University)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Sexual violence in Ireland remains a neglected topic of analysis. This article uses newspaper accounts and court records to explore the rape in nineteenth century Ireland. It explores the impact of family formation, complaints about false accusations, the attitudes of the courts, the language used by victims to express their suffering (especially the concept of "insensibility"), the social nature of sexual attacks, and the role of emigration. It suggests that an exploration of sexual violence in Ireland reveals a great deal about social morés, including what made people laugh. The article concludes by suggesting that some Irish women were able to protest against their treatment in the courts.

URI: http://eprints.bbk.ac.uk/id/eprint/30594

Language: en