CDA's Flashcards
what were the Victorian Views supporting increasing concern towards prostitution?
- Prostitutes challenged the view of women as pure and virgins until marriage
- was seen as contaminating society
- threatened institution of marriage
- view as cause of public disorder (Clapham Junction)
what were the Victorian Views against increasing concern towards prostitution?
- economic reasons for prostitution
- working class women had very little education (limited job options)
- seen as alternative to workhouse
- seen as necessary evil for mes sex drive
- little evidence for intentional decision to become prostitute
what were the Causes for the CDA’s?
- John William Acton
- 1862 Committee
- Army and Navy
- Prostitution
- General Health
how was the Army and Navy a cause of prostitution?
- in Crimean War disease killed more soldiers than combat
- hospitals were germ breeding grounds
- major diseases were: Gonnhorea, Siphillis and scabies
- prostitutes used to deal with male sex drive and prevent homosexuality
how was the 1862 Committee a cause of prostitution?
- until 1859 men had to undergo regular disease examinations (but was abandoned soon after)
- 1860 37% of army hospital patients had venereal diseases
- 105/1000 men hospitalised due to STD’s
Committee established to combat these issues
- Nightingale was head of committee
- drove to rid of prostitutes and army disease
- committee was ignored by government
how was the General Population Health a cause of prostitution?
- Syphillis responsible for 20% of all ear and eye cases in London Royal Hospital
- Syphillis was major killer in children
- 7% of sick and poor in London had venereal diseases
how was the John William Acton a cause of prostitution?
- London surgeon who specialised in genital and urinary organs
- educated in disease and social issues surrounding prostitutes
- wrote book ‘Prostitution Considered in its Moral, Social, and Sanitary aspects in London and other large cities’
- Outlined prostitution as critical issue and created discussion on how to deal with it
when were the CDA’s?
1864
1866
1869
what did the 1864 CDA do?
- Gave Police power to arrest prostitutes for medical examination (in ports and garrison towns)
- Diseased women could be detained in lock hospitals or imprisoned if refused
what did the 1866 CDA do?
- Prostitutes could be identified from a single word of a policeman
- Compulsory examinations introduced on all suspected prostitutes (in 10 mile radius of ports or garrison towns)
what did the 1869 CDA do?
- Gave Police and officials the power to hold suspected prostitutes for 5 days before medical examination
- Established protected districts across the UK
- Made it legal to hold women in lock hospitals for up to a year (with fortnightly exams)
how were venereal diseases treated?
using Mercury
- through pills, vapour baths, ointment or direct application to the skin
- would burn off symptoms
- didn’t actually cure disease
- could cause insanity
what were women given if found to be not diseased?
Given a card to prove of health
- some perceived this as legalising prostitution
Did the CDA’s improve health?
improved health in Armed Forces and Prostitutes
- But, limiting checks to women meant venereal disease couldn’t be eradicated
- Wolkowitz argued that improvements were limited due to lack of checks on males
did the Act fullfill their purpose?
Yes, as in 1869 the medical profession moved to extend the regulation to civilian cities
- But this was met with opposition due to concerns of impacts wouldn’t be beneficial
How did the CDA’s affect the Lives of Prostitutes?
- 1871 Royal Commission found evidence legislation had improved conditions for prostitutes
- Health Cards allowed for women to secure clients and charge higher prices
- life expectancy for Prostitutes improved
- Reduction in Scabies provided great relief for Prostitutes
- However, introduction of Speculum which was seen as Brutal and Degrading
How did the CDA’s affect the Lives of Ordinary Women?
- Contemporary notions on sexuality maintained that Men had Sexual Desires and that Women were Pure
- But, CDA’s seemed to place the blame for Venereal disease onto Women
- There was growing notion of Prostitutes being seen as victims (this became central to the unrest surrounding the legislation)
Who were the leading figures in the Repeal of the CDA’s?
- Elizabeth Wolstenhome
- James Stansfeld
- Josephine Butler
who was Elizabeth Wolstenhome?
- A member of the Social Science Association (founded in 1857 to improve public health)
- Wolstenhome was against Victorian notions of respectability (hostile to marriage)
- 1869 a group of the SSA members formed the Nation Anti-Contagious Disease Act Extension Association
- From her experiences in this she created the Ladies National Association (LNA)
- She saw herself as unfit to lead the association so she invited Josephine Butler to lead
who was James Stansfeld?
- worked in Gladstone’s cabinet until 1874
- Post 1874 he took a dominant role in the repeal of the CDA’s
-Before Butler’s role in the LNA, he reshaped the movement into a more effective pressure group - he aimed to develop scientific arguments against the CDA’s
- 1879 Conservative Gov agreed to establish committee of enquiry into the acts
- Standfeld was appointed to this committee in 1880 when the Liberals returned to office
why was there tension surrounding Stansfeld in the LNA?
Created tensions with middle class women
- they felt men were too influential in the movement
- Butler relied on his organisation skills but she felt his promenence to be a threat
who was Josephine Butler?
- Devout Christian (with minister husband) meant her values were above criticism and gave movement credibility
- She cultivated an image of ‘holiness’ as she identified with St Catherine of Siena
- she was Strong Willed and outspoken about the double standard with men and the cruel use of the speculum
- She spoke to audiences around the country and in parliament
- Her main concern about the CDA’s was the essential legalisation of prostitution
what were the criticisms surrounding Josephine Butler?
- her condemnation of the acts at the 1871 Royal Commission were underwhelming when she confessed to having no first hand knowledge of prostitution
- 1881 she confessed to not having visited a protected area since 1873
- Her Uncompromising Demands prevented reforms that could’ve Improved the Welfare of prostitutes such replacing Lock Hospitals with Voluntary Examinations in Private Clinics
what were the tactics of the repeal movement?
- Nationwide Agitation
- Petitions
- Cooperation with prostitutes
- Case Studies
- Inference with elections
what was Nationwide Agitation in the repeal of the CDA’s?
1872-3 a number of regional leagues were established to aid local action
- e.g. Northern Counties League & Midlands Electoral League
- Not just dominated by middle class as Working Men’s National League was established 1875
- This provided huge support base and increased the overall power and pressure of the LNA
what were Petitions in the repeal of the CDA’s?
- used widely due to being only Constitutional way to influence parliament
- 1870-86 18,000 petitions - signed by over 2.5 million people
- Showed LNA’s huge support base
what was Cooperation With Prostitutes in the repeal of the CDA’s?
Early 1870’s LNS convinced prostitutes to resist local requirements of the acts
- Campaigners worked with women Resisting the Acts
- Campaigners provided Financial and Legal support
- Worked well in Short term but prostitutes were compliant again by 1872
what was Case Studies in the repeal of the CDA’s?
Campaigners drew attention to women mistaken as prostitutes
- Mrs Percy drowned herself whilst under investigation
- Elizabeth Hoult was wrongly held in Maidstone jail & was held in a lock hospital
- Fuelled public fear for extension of acts onto ordinary women
- increased Public Support
what was Interfering With Elections in the repeal of the CDA’s?
1870 Candidacy of Henry Storks for Newark
- Repeal campaigners targeted Storks for his enforcement of CDA’s in Malta
- Led him to withdraw candidacy on day of election
- Led to election of new Liberal leader
- Showed the LNA’s influence (but wasn’t long term as Storks ran again)
what were the Parliamentary Commissions?
Royal Commission in 1870 interviewed 80 witnesses
- Found the acts had ‘ marked diminution’ in venereal disease and prostitution
- But questioned whether the system could be enforced morally
Committee of the House of Commons interviewed 71 witnesses
- found the acts had successfully protected the army from venereal disease
How were the Acts repealed?
Stansfeld presented a speech in 1883
- He claimed the acts were immoral and undemocratic
- Presented statistics saying the Acts had No Positive Impact
- Proposed to abolish part of acts the Required compulsory medical examinations
- passed with majority of 182 votes
1886 Gladstone indicated and intention to abolish the Acts completely
- passed by majority of 114 votes
why did Parliament Repeal the Acts?
- Over 10,000 petitions
- Opposition represented many different groups
- Arguments presented were Logical and Practical (1880 medical report - venereal disease in army not decreasing)
- Election of Liberal Government
- 1870’s changes to women’s rights (1871 right to vote in municipal elections)
