What are Magdalene laundries?

Answer by  patti (29325)

Magadalene laundries were Irish asylums for "wayward" young women. They are associated with Catholics, but were actually started by Protestants. Instead of "rehabilitating" young women, they used them for what amounted to slave labor. All were shut down by the government in 1996.

Answer by  Rosebud (334)

Magdalene Laundries were workhouses were Irish women and girls where were considered a threat to the moral side of society were held. The last laundry didn't close until 1996.

Answer by  Ann74 (86)

By saying the term Magdalene laundries one means a kind of asylums for women. Generally such institutions were founded by protestants and included hard work for women, including laundry (that's why they are called "laundries"). The great part of such institutions was in Ireland, the last was closed in 1996.

Answer by  Ken56 (1160)

These are also known as Magdalene asylumns. They were institutions that tried to rehability so-called "fallen women" meaning mostly women who were prostitutes. The women were often charged with doing laundry as part of their rehab, and so the name. Mostly associated with Irish Protestants.