Unit 5: Which groups and individuals led the opposition to the Contagious Diseases Acts? Flashcards
What was the Ladies National Association for the Repeal of the Contagious Diseases Acts (LNA)?
The proposal to extend the CDA received hostile responses- 31st December 1869, over 120 women signed a petition against the Acts and formed the number LNA; number of signatures increased to over 2000.
LNA made 8 allegations against the Act:
The act passed through parliament in secrecy.
The legislation undermined the legal protection formally accorded to men and women.
The laws unfairly punished one sex for the vice of prostitution, which was largely the fault of ment.
The implementation of the acts was cruel and degrading with medical examinations brutalising women.
The act would increase disease rather than prevent it.
The solution to venereal diseases had to be moral.
Who was Elizabeth Wolstenholme?
In 1860s, member of the National Association for the promotion of social science which promoted public health, penal reform and female education.
National Anti-Contagious Diseases Act formed, became the National Association for the Repeal of the CDA.
Wolstenholme could not lead the movement being a radical, becoming pregnant before marriage.
Called Josephine Butler to lead.
Who was Josephine Butler?
Butler was a moral, repsected woman, the wife of a Church Minister.
Founded refuge for fallen women, regularly visited destitute prostitutes in workhouses, opposed those who criticised these women.
The Royal Commission’s Peter Rylands said there was something holy about Butler despite disagreeing with some of her opinions.
Didn’t always have a positive impact- had no first hand knowledge of prostitution so her testimony was based on hearsay and had a limited connection to the women most affected by the CDA.
Her compromosing demands delayed regulation of a better system.
Butler was still a strong character- wanted seduction to be made illegal and was outspoken on the use of the speculum. It was not only degrading, but a sexual attack carried out by men and women.
Her claims that doctors were performing instrumental rape were sensational.
Who was James Stansfeld?
Responsible for organising the movement, from 1874, reshaped it into a more effective political pressure group.
Worked with Gladstone and was a radical MP.
Successful in encouraging the formation of the National Medical Association in 1875, which enlisted medical professionals to campaign against the Act. The conservative government established a committee to incquire the Acts until 1882 when the Liberals returned to power and appointed Stansfeld to the inquiry,
Stansfeld’s role created some tension with many middle class women within LNA because they felt that men were too influential within the movement but they were central to the LNA’s success as he had political influence.
