Contagious Diseases Act: Impact of the CDA

Question 1

what evidence did the 1871 Royal commission find out in the impact of the acts from their investigations,.

Answer 1

• The legislation had improved the conditions of prostitutes in protected areas as:

-Certificates given to clean women were valued
assets to customers.
- lock wards had reported that while incarcerated and
under treatment, prostitutes health and self esteem
had improved.
-The legislation had improved women’s health and allowed them to remain in their business considerably longer than without investigations.

• Great relief was provided to women with the reduction in the occurrence in scabies had the largest discomfort.
• The act had reduced the amount of soldiers infected with syphilis with 37 out of 1000 in protected areas compared to 194 out of 1000 in unprotected areas.

Question 2

`why is the results form the 1871 Royal Commission not reliable?

Answer 2

-They had only interviewed ministers, doctors and military officers.
they had believed that prostitutes were not sufficiently respectable for the Government to consult which makes it hard to determine how effective the results of the CDA was.
- it was limited as there was no checks on men in the Army

Question 3

why did people want the act to be extended into the civil population?

Answer 3

-They believed that it was needed to reduce high levels of venereal infection in the military and civilian population.

Question 4

Why were medical checks so controversial?

Answer 4

• Checks were performed embarrassingly in a room with clear windows and could be observed by dock workers.
• The penetration of the speculum was conceived as a form of instrumental rape.
• If performed on a virgin it could corrupt their sexual innocence, and was seen to rob a woman’s virginity.
• It could cause cross contamination between women.

Question 5

Why was the idea of double standards raised as an issue.

Answer 5

-They had seen prostitution as a necessity for men, but blamed women for the problems created. women were seen as a victim rather than conveyers.

Question 6

what was The Contagious Diseases Act 1864

Answer 6

Applied to specific garrison towns and ports (18)in ENG & IRL
Authorised police to arrest women if suspected of prostitution
They then had to be registered & medically examined by army/navy doctor
If diseased, could be detained for up to 3 months for treatment
Passed through parliament w/little debate -

Question 7

when was the contageous diseases act repealed?

Answer 7

1886