I am sure by this time, my
Gefolgsmanns followers, know
Euer Führer their leader is no stinkin' bleeding-heart
kommie liberal! But I thought it might be useful to follow a theme through several Pulps. The theme? Lesbians in Prison!
Man's Epic, December 1964
The cover. We won't discuss the art or blurbs except to note one: "Expose: The Lesbian Epidemic That is Ruining Your Sex Life"
The actual story inside has nothing to do with your drab, wretched sex-life, that's your fault!
"The Lesbian Epidemic, Our National Shame" The story, while strongly anti-homosexuality, is mostly about the need for prison reform. "Trapped by their short-circuited emotions, they walk through a twilight world which may flare into violence at any time. They brake our laws, but jail is not the solution." It goes on to explain that when male prison guards beat women prisoners “this sort of thing...contributes to a common anti-male feeling held by lesbians.” Ya think?
The author writes, "
...prisons are breeding grounds for the practice of depravity and the recruitment of young innocents to the “queer world.” We must be willing to recognize lesbianism as an illness and treat its sufferers accordingly. Certainly, additional psychiatric help is indicated."
“THE LESBIAN EPIDEMIC” story ends by noting that the United States was spending billions to keep both male and female inmates in shamefully-operated prisons and concludes: “Reform would be infinitely cheaper.”
An almost enlightened article for its time.
From Men, April 1958
The story a first hand account written by a woman who worked as a matron (i.e., a guard) at the New Jersey State Prison for Women, the "Clinton Farms Reformatory for Women" back when the belief that prisons could “reform” inmates was more prevalent than the idea that prisons themselves needed reforming to achieve that goal.
Lesbianism -
At its worst, it dominates prisons that I've heard about, where masculine types—“boy-girls,” they're called—actually line up new young girls and choose the ones they will “marry.” At its best, no such overt acts occur but the presence of homosexuality is sensed nevertheless, a dark underground stream that cannot be dammed…
Only a few of the girls are lesbians when they arrive. Many are completely ignorant of it. Others are determined to resist it.
Yet unavoidable pressures force them toward it. A new arrival is lost and miserable in unfamiliar surroundings. For a girl, even more than for a boy, the natural thing is to find a friend among the inmates who will help her learn the ropes.
Both these stories seem more sympathetic and less exploitative than the 1970's movies:
Although I wonder? How many ladies out there would want to be in with the "Caged Heat" gals!?
Terror Tales Sept-Oct 1938
Thrilling Mystery October 1936
Web Terror Stories February 1965 (long before Al Gore invented the Web)
Why, it would almost be an honor to be handed over to him. He might even offer you some refreshments between sessions on the rack!
A competitive exam!
, I only know deep and hard!
