A Public Warning for Outspoken Women
Throughout England between the 16th and early 19th centuries, outspoken women, known as “common scolds,” faced public punishment for their “disruptive” behavior. Often accused of gossiping, quarreling, or speaking out against authority, these women were punished to deter others from following suit.
The Ducking Stool as a Silencing Tool
For common scolds, the ducking stool became a favored punishment. Mounted on a long wooden arm, the stool was used to lower the offender into a river or pond repeatedly. The intention wasn’t necessarily to harm but to publicly humiliate the woman and “cool her immoderate heat,” as records of the time described.
A Spectacle for the Community
Punishments were staged in full view of neighbors and townsfolk, turning the ducking of a common scold into a community event. The practice was meant as both a punishment and a warning, reminding women of the risks of being too outspoken or disruptive in their communities.
The End of the Ducking Stool Era
The punishment of common scolds faded in the early 19th century, with Jenny Pipes of Leominster becoming one of the last documented cases in 1809.
“Duck the Scold!”: England’s Punishment for Disruptive Women 🧵
Throughout England from the 16th to early 19th centuries, women known as “common scolds” faced punishment for disruptive behavior. Often accused of gossiping or speaking against authority, these women were publicly… pic.twitter.com/fJvtRyTjXB
— Detective Tiger's Stories (@TigerDetective) November 7, 2024