Cambridge University imprisoned women without trial or evidence

In Cambridge, England, a charter issued in 1561 granted the University of Cambridge unprecedented powers to arrest and imprison women deemed 'suspected of evil.' This led to the wrongful detention of young working-class women, regarded as prostitutes, who were apprehended for simply being in the company of male university students after dark. Documented research by Caroline Biggs illustrates that no evidence of wrongdoing was required for these arrests, and the women were often held in the university's private prison, known as the Spinning House, for weeks without proper legal recourse. The social context of the time reflected widespread concern among parents, who feared that their sons might be influenced negatively by local women suspected of being immoral. Officials at the university collaborated with local proctors to enforce these arrests, believing that the presence of these women posed a threat to the moral standards upheld within the university community. It was noted that this repression was both a means of control over women and a reflection of the social dynamics between the university and the town of Cambridge, indicating a long-standing power struggle between academic elites and local residents. In a tragic turn of events, numerous women were arrested under various pretexts, often for minor infractions, or simply for being seen with university members. Biggs' research into historical records highlights a case involving a 17-year-old girl named Daisy Hopkins, who was apprehended for walking with a university member and was subsequently subjected to an illegal trial for immoral conduct. This particular case sparked significant outrage and ultimately led to parliamentary intervention in 1894, resulting in the revocation of the university's charter that enabled such arrests, alongside the dismantling of the prison where these detentions occurred. The significant abuses of power highlighted by Biggs call for acknowledgment and an apology from the University of Cambridge regarding its historical actions against women. The impact of these events continues to reverberate today, as discussions about historical injustices and institutional accountability gain traction in society. The experiences of these women, who were unfairly jailed without trial, reflect a broader issue of gender-based oppression and the systemic use of authority to control social behavior, emphasizing the need for critical reflection on historical practices in institutions of higher education.