This is an actual Ducking Chair, made in England in the 1600s, designed for publically humiliating and frightening those strapped into it by plunging them into water. Importantly, it was only for women.
In England — and its burgeoning North American colonies — urbanization, capitalism, and religious and political turmoil were all on the rise, which various historians have blamed for the increasing attacks on women. The witchcraft trials of the mid-16th century were also part of this trend. Enormous fears of women taking power included increasing court cases where women were tried as “scolds”: women who broke the peace by publically criticizing their family members or neighbors.
The chair shown here was at the Jamestown Settlement Museum, exemplifying how the Colonies followed their motherland with such punishments. Next to the display, a quote from _A Collection of the Laws of Virginia 1662_ reads, “Whereas oftentimes many babbling women often slander and scandalize their neighbours. . . . After judgement passed for the damages the women shalby punished by ducking. . . “
The misogyny of this culture was truly horrific.
