As previously mentioned, matrons, like Mrs. Falconer (the woman on the far right), were an essential part of the reformatory structure. Within their cottage, they were expected to act as mother, confidant, jailer, and punisher. Through these roles, matrons reinforced the boundaries that the cities did not around race, class, and gender. As white, educated women, they modelled what “proper” womanhood was supposed to look like for the girls and women brought into the reformatory who were perceived as deviant and, therefore, a threat to the imagined stability of identities that entailed higher social status and power.

Questions

What does the posing of the people in this photos suggest about their relationship?

What do you wonder about these women? What were your first impressions of them?

How does this image compare to group pictures of the incarcerated youth? Do you think the younger women next to Mrs. Falconer are social workers/matrons? Why or why not?