The Unveiling of Women Pirates
Most women pirates began going on ships in disguises as men, but once Anne Bonny and Mary Reid proved themselves worthy they no longer needed to hide what was known as weakness. These two women proved their strength with actions. The women did however keep their manly clothing. They had proven there mightiness in comparison to that of men and wore men’s clothing to show that they were the same as male pirates. (“Pirates of the Carolinas, North Carolina Pirates, South Carolina Pirates,” n.d.-b, p. 48) At the end of their piracy together Read and Bonny were captured for attacking a military ship. They were both taken prisoner and found guilty of piracy. Anne Bonny and Mary Read both pleaded for their lives because both were pregnant. For this reason they were never executed but stayed imprisoned. (Zepke, 2005, p. 64) Mary Reid died of fever and illness during the imprisonment. Nothing is known of what exactly happened to Anne Bonny after she was imprisoned. These women pirates created a scenario the justice system had not seen before. Criminals who’s sentence should have been death carrying innocent life. The courts had to decide to keep them alive for their children. Women who are carrying children are still treated different when imprisoned in the United States today
Most women pirates began going on ships in disguises as men, but once Anne Bonny and Mary Reid proved themselves worthy they no longer needed to hide what was known as weakness. These two women proved their strength with actions. The women did however keep their manly clothing. They had proven there mightiness in comparison to that of men and wore men’s clothing to show that they were the same as male pirates. (“Pirates of the Carolinas, North Carolina Pirates, South Carolina Pirates,” n.d.-b, p. 48) At the end of their piracy together Read and Bonny were captured for attacking a military ship. They were both taken prisoner and found guilty of piracy. Anne Bonny and Mary Read both pleaded for their lives because both were pregnant. For this reason they were never executed but stayed imprisoned. (Zepke, 2005, p. 64) Mary Reid died of fever and illness during the imprisonment. Nothing is known of what exactly happened to Anne Bonny after she was imprisoned. These women pirates created a scenario the justice system had not seen before. Criminals who’s sentence should have been death carrying innocent life. The courts had to decide to keep them alive for their children. Women who are carrying children are still treated different when imprisoned in the United States today