Magdalene asylum

Magdalene Asylums were like prisons for women. Some women were sent there by their families when they did something wrong (like having a baby out of wedlock). Other women went there because they had no family or other home to stay in. They were often very strict places, and the women lived together in large groups. They were made to do long hours of labor, such as sewing or cleaning, and were not allowed to leave the asylum. They were also often not paid for the work they did. Some of these places were very cruel and even abused the women who lived there.