Sexual Battery: Gynecological Treatment in the Mercer Reformatory, 1939-40

AuthorConstance Backhouse
Pages105-130

EChapterF
SEXUAL BATTERY:
Gynecological Treatment in the
MercerReformatory
EVDon the edge of her narrow bed, in
alockedcellsevenbyfourfeetinsizeintheAndrewMercerReformatory
for Women. The cell was lit with a bare bulb. The toilet facilities consisted
ofanenamelpailandlidClassiedbylawasincorrigiblebecauseshe
was pregnant out of wedlock and living with a Chinese man, Velma was
servingatwelvemonthsentenceinthewomensprisoninTorontoOneof
thefewwomenproledinthisbookwhoisstilllivingVelmaDemerson
generously consented to a series of interviews to supplement the records
ofhercaseAssherecallsitthatrstnightintheMercerJuneshe
wasoverwhelmedbyapremonitionthatsomethingdreadfulwasabout
to befall her.
ThenextmorningVelmaandfortysixothernewinmatesweresentto
themedicalexaminingroomTheyledinonebehindtheotherforming
a long line from the examining table out into the hall. The female physician
who serviced the Mercer was dressed in a white medical coat, with a black
band wrapped around her head. She demonstrated how she wanted the girls
to mount the table by stepping on a box. The object of the exercise was to con
ductaninternalgynecologicalexaminationofallfortysevenwomenbefore
noon. There was no assistant present. No one took the trouble to make notes.
Thepacewassorapidthattwoexaminationswerecompletedeveryvemin
utes. One of the earliest to mount the table was a girl in her last trimester of
pregnancy. Velma was shocked at her treatment: “The girl was crying, and
we had to stand around and watch. We could see everything. There was
ナトハCarnalCrimes
Above: Andrew Mercer
ReformatoryforWomenc
RightVelmaDemersonage
andbrotherLeoage
Toronto
Frank W. Mickleth waite Colle ction, L ibrary an d Archives C anada, E003 8495555
Courtesy of Velma Demerson

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