Reference

The policy change in 1976 in Northern Ireland primarily involved the end of "Special Category Status" for prisoners. This policy shift, known as "criminalisation," meant that those jailed for paramilitary activities were no longer considered political prisoners but rather treated the same as ordinary criminals.

For female prisoners, this change had profound implications:

1. Living Conditions and Treatment: Female political prisoners, like their male counterparts, lost privileges tied to their previous special status. This included the right to wear their own clothes, the freedom to associate, and exemption from prison work. Instead, they were required to wear prison uniforms and adhere to the standard regimen imposed on criminal inmates.

2. Protests and Resistance: This policy change led to significant protests by female prisoners. For instance, in Armagh Gaol (the main female prison), women participated in the "No Wash" protests, mimicking similar actions taken by male prisoners in the Maze and Long Kesh prisons. These protests were marked by refusing to wash or wear prison uniforms as a form of resistance to their criminalisation.

3. Psychological and Physical Hardship: The female inmates faced extensive psychological and physical hardships due to their protests. The repressive measures taken by prison authorities to enforce the new criminalisation policies often led to deteriorating conditions and increased tensions within the prisons.

4. Impact on Broader Female Involvement: The changes spurred broader involvement and activism among women outside of prison. Female activists engaged in campaigns to highlight the conditions in prisons and the plight of the inmates, leading to heightened awareness and political mobilisation around these issues.

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For more detailed reading you can refer to the full documents and resources available here and here.