Welcome back! It’s the 15th week of First Sentence Friday/Free Book Friday!
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About the Book
Accused of “promiscuity” in 1940s North Carolina, a young woman unjustly incarcerated and subjected to involuntary medical treatment at The State Industrial Farm Colony for Women decides to fight back in this powerful, shockingly timely novel based on the long-buried history of the American Plan, the government program designed to regulate women’s bodies and sexuality throughout the first half of the 20th century.
The day Ruth Foster’s life changes begins the same way as many others—with a walk through her North Carolina hometown toward the diner where she works. But on this day, Ruth is stopped by the local sheriff, who insists that she accompany him to a health clinic. Women like Ruth—young, unmarried, living alone—must undergo testing in order to preserve decency and prevent the spread of sexual disease.
Though Ruth has never shared more than a chaste kiss with a man, by day’s end she is one of dozens of women held at the State Industrial Farm Colony for Women. Some, like 15-year-old Stella Temple, are brought in at their family’s request. For Stella, even the Colony’s hardships seem like a respite from her nightmarish home life.
Superintendent Dorothy Baker, convinced that she’s transforming degenerate souls into upstanding members of society, oversees the women’s medical treatment and “training” until they’re deemed ready for parole. Sooner or later, everyone at the Colony learns to abide by Mrs. Baker’s rule book or face the consequences—solitary confinement, grueling work assignments, and worse.
But some refuse to be cowed. Against Mrs. Baker’s dogged efforts and the punishing weight of authority, Ruth and other inmates find ways to fight back, resolved to regain their freedom at any cost . . .
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First Sentence Friday Thoughts
History showed me if there was anything positive or “good” about the Colony, it was revealed in the medical records kept in the biennial reports. These records provided what treatments were given to women for the many illnesses they suffered aside from STIs and all were seen by a dentist. Therefore, despite the questionable activities for reforming women, the harsh and cruel punishments, basic care was given and these practices were dictated by the Constitution and amendments passed well before places like the Colony existed.
Based on one particular Amendment, facilities like the Colony were expected to provide basic needs as follows:
Eighth Amendment (1791): Prohibits “cruel and unusual punishment.” This is the foundation for requiring humane conditions in prisons. Interpreted by courts to mean prisoners must have basic needs met (food, clothing, shelter, medical care). The Fourteenth Amendment applies as well, but my focus for this post is mostly on medical care. (“Meditation” broke this law)
So what’s with all the positive talk about the medical care – particularly after that last post about the terrible Neosalvarsan and mercury shots? Simply that many women who ended up in the Colony had never seen a dentist, and suffered from other illnesses, and perhaps couldn’t afford to see a doctor. Take note of the records here from one of the biennial reports I acquired while doing research. Aside from STIs, women suffered from hookworms, low weight, and on another page (not shown) they suffered from Vincent’s infections, (acute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis) pyorrhea, cavities, and in some cases, dental plates were made.
Once women entered the Colony, or facilities like it, they were in the hands of the individuals running the institution along with medical professionals, and treatments for current illnesses were provided to put these individuals back on the road to health. It’s likely many women re-entered society in better shape than when they got there.
Stella Temple comes to the Colony a relatively healthy individual of fifteen years, and as mentioned previously, she’s been sent by her parents based on the advice given by a local doctor. While I was writing this story, I kept thinking of how miserable it would be to not feel well in a place like this. You were expected to adhere to the rules and there was little room for sickness, and if you did get sick with something more than having low weight or dental issues, sympathy equalled coddling. Picture having something equivalent to the flu, and trying to carry on as if nothing is wrong.
After Stella has been there only a short while, she begins to feel unwell, and because of the social dynamics within the Colony, as well as the housemother, Mrs. Maynard’s warped disposition, she does her best to hide her misery. She’s doesn’t understand what’s wrong, she only knows she’s really sick.
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Chapter 15
Stella
Glassy-eyed and disorientated, Stella shivers.
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Question of the Week!
While on the one hand women at the Colony were abused, on the other, they were given medical care – and here I’m talking about outside of the STI situation which was questionable in many cases. (false positives, etc.) It created a bit of conflict in my head – don’t worry, it didn’t last long as I kept learning. It was like getting help from the enemy. I learned about the good that was done along with the bad. This week’s question is about conflicting situations in other historic events. Is there one you can think of, where something similar was taking place?
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Free Read! Advance Reader Copy!
The winner is announced here Monday a.m.
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PRE-ORDER Information
Pre-orders gauge the interest and signal to the publisher readers are eager for an author’s next work. If you’re holding out because you might win an ARC or a finished copy from First Sentence Friday, remember you can always give away the extra as a gift to a reader friend. 😉
Pre-order links for your convenience:
- Bookshop.org
- Kensington Publishing Corporation
- Barnes & Noble
- Books-A-Million
- Amazon
- Hudson Booksellers
- Target
- Walmart
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I think those sorts of conflicts occurred frequently in historic events. People on both sides usually believe they are doing the right thing. I think we see that in today’s current events, as well.
One I thought of was during the Civil War when the sides would trade for items they needed. The Confederates didn’t have coffee, the Union didn’t have tobacco. They’d quit shooting one another long enough to trade. The next morning, it was back to firing at one another.
Tuberculosis (TB) sanatoriums.
I’m thinking the difference might be that most people checked into a sanatorium willingly, which meant the staff didn’t appear like the “enemy” as they accepted care. It’s true there might have been some who were committed unwillingly.
I think another could be mental hospitals, or insane asylums, which were supposedly doing good by assessing behavior, coming up with a diagnosis, and trying to “help” the individual, yet most often (in the old days) they would put folks into straight-jackets, drug them to control them, tie them to their beds or put them in isolation.
What a terrible time women had back then! My mom was thought that she might have tuberculosis, but her doctor didn’t give up on her, kept her isolated and found out the problem! My aunt told me how sick she was, but thankfully God was with her through this!
Not Anonymous, it’s Rebecca Booth!
Hi Rebecca!
can’t think of any
bn100
Can’t think.of where it took place but somewhere in the south in the mountains. The government wanted the land, so they said everyone there were idiots and took their children away and put the parents in institutions. Women were sterilized without even knowing it.
Not anonymous. This is Marta
Ellen Marie Wiseman’s book deals with this – THE LIES THEY TOLD.
It was in Virginia.
EMW’s book! 😉
Yep!
I think there are many situations in which terrible situations and wrongs can ultimately lead to some positives, but doesn’t excuse or justify the wrong. Our world is more gray than white or black. It’s difficult to know and impossible to judge many times if a given action’s results have reduced harm, righted wrongs, and improved things. The current policies and management of illegal aliens in the US is a case in point. Many ways to look at that. Child protection services remove kids from homes judged to be unsafe. But are those kids better off in the foster system with its imperfections? I have no answers but many questions.
Yes, I agree. In any particular moment in time, there’s always the consideration it’s for the greater good, but is it? I think your examples, and particularly Child Protective Services, which is one I hadn’t thought of, are great examples.
Even now there is conflicting information about vaccines for various diseases. It’s sad that we can’t just listen to the scientific answers, instead of falling prey to the extremists who speak loudly on the news. It scares me that measles is making a comeback when it could be easily prevented. I’m old enough to have suffered through the real thing, and I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy.
There are so many factors that lead to the way people think today – even beyond the news. We have the internet and now Artificial Intelligence, both a really good/bad thing, and perhaps one of the examples I can think of here for this question. I’m just as bad as the next person for Googling everything under the sun for an answer. The “bad” is the information can be questionable, if not altogether wrong in some instances. Pretty scary stuff!