Contagious Diseases Acts

Question 1

Main causes of prostitution

Answer 1

• w/c women had little to no education
• most employed in domestic service
• prostitution only alternative to going into the workhouse
• some women saw prostitution as part time

Question 2

What were rescue workers

Answer 2

People who cared for prostitutes or ‘fallen women’ as they were called in Victorian times

Question 3

Victorian attitudes to prostitution

Answer 3

• seen as a moral threat to society - challenged idea that women were pure
• seen as something that contaminated society
• viewed as a cause of public disorder
• some saw it as necessary to fulfil ‘natural’ male sex drive - hypocrisy

Question 4

Why were the contagious diseases acts passed

Answer 4

• Crimean war (1854-56) main catalyst
• Britain had more casualties in hospitals than the battlefield
• after war - army statistical department set up which published annual reports on health of army
• reports highlighted high degree of venereal disease
• 1864 venereal disease accounted for 1/3 sick cases

Question 5

1857 Royal Commision

Answer 5

• 1860, 37% amry hospital admissions were for venereal infections
• on average 105 out of every 1000 soldiers were in hospital due to sexually related illness

Question 6

1862 committee of inquiry

Answer 6

• gov appointed to investigate how venereal disease in the army could be prevented
• central advocate Nightingale - against regulation of prostitutes
• John Liddell advocated for regulation - used in Hong Kong and India
• gov ignored Nightingale and 1862 committee

Question 7

John William Acton

Answer 7

• london surgeon of high reputation - medical knowledge of venereal disease
• Acton published a book which influenced gov approach to sexual health
• Acton explained venereal disease were a danger to the general pop and condition of army
• suggested through regular medical checks of prostitutes venereal disease could be controlled

Question 8

Contagious diseases act 1864

Answer 8

• applied to specific garrison towns and ports
• authorised police in ‘subjected districts’ to arrest women suspected of being a ‘common prostitute’
• if women found to be diseased they could be detained for up to 3 months
• act passed with little debate - some MPs thought they were passing an Act affecting animals

Question 9

Impact of the 1864 act

Answer 9

• early statistics showed decline in number of prostitutes in military districts
• statistics collected on cleanliness of registered women and improved order on streets in garrison towns and ports
• some suggested prostitutes had left towns rather than risk being arrested - may have spread disease

Question 10

Contagious diseases act 1866

Answer 10

• gov introduced compulsory examinations once every 3 months
• examinations to be carried out within 10 miles of any port or garrison town

Question 11

Contagious diseaseses act 1869

Answer 11

• extended regulation to all garrision towns
• allowed prostitutes to be held for five days before examination
• ‘instrumental rape’

Question 12

‘Positive’ impacts of the acts on prostitutes and ordinary women

Answer 12

• 1871 Royal Commision appointed to investigate acts
• claimed legislation had improved conditions for prostitutes in protected areas
• claimed certificates given to disease free prostitutes became valued assets
• limited as didn’t gather knowledge from prostitutes

Question 13

Negative impacts of the acts on prostitutes and ordinary women

Answer 13

• once women’s name on the register difficult to get off
• many women falsely accused - Miss Percy committed suicide as she lost job and rep
• double standards
• instrumental rape