CDAs

• 1864 act: have police in garrison town and ports the power to arrest suspected prostitutes for medical examination
• 1866 Act: compulsory examinations of prostitutes every 3 months in a 10 mile radius
• 1869 act : prostitutes could be held for 5 days before examinations without trial. Could be detained for up to 1 year in lock hospitals with fortnightly inspections
• why were the acts introduced?

  For army and navy:

  • Crimean War 1853-56 showed more casualties from disease rather than battlefield
  • first act was in garrison towns and naval ports where soldiers would have leave (Portsmouth)
  • venereal diseases engulfed- loss of man power
  • 586/ 60,000 a day were inactive
• why were the acts repealed?

  • Josephine butler= led movement as she was married to minister, charismatic speaker 'steel rape', devout Christian. however the evidence she gave would be second or third hand and she wouldn't compromise
• why were the acts introduced ?

  because of medical experts. John William Acton's book 'prostitution' in 1857 raised conversation about regulation and how venereal disease would weaken the population. the 1862 committee headed by Florence Nightingale, end prostitution and John Liddell, regular health checks. 1853 smallpox vaccinations showed positives of medical pressure
• why were the acts introduced?

  because of prostitution and women. acts were invasive, painful and dehumanising. forced women into lock hospitals and damaged their reputations while protecting the morale of men who had sexual desires. 50 sleepy MPs thought the acts were about animal bill. prostitutes were referred to as sewage that needed to be cleaned so that it was safe for the general public.
• why were the acts introduced ?

  because of Laissez faire and colony countries. Malta and Gibraltar had compulsory examinations on a regular basis with shaped uk legislation. the erosion of Laissez faire contributed to an atmosphere where intervention was inevitable. gov more willing to intervene in publics life after 1860.
• the positive impact of the acts on women:

  1. improved conditions
  2. health certificates were valuable asset
  3. status was flexible is she got married, taken off register
  4. stay in business longer
  5. scabies was painful and treatment from the acts helped
• the negative impacts of the acts on women:

  1. speculum was uncomfortable and degrading
  2. Rescue of Women and Children institute didn't help women
  3. women became outcasts
  4. police didn't try and implement acts
  5. some laws made it harder to access reform institutions
  6. double standards= blame placed on women despite knowing prostitution was necessary for male sexuality. and that the CDAs spread male licentiousness.
  7. ruined women's reputation. middle upper class women like Mrs Percy 1875
• why were the acts repealed?

  henry Wilson. worked backstage as the backbone of the movement. was potentially more important than Josephine as he could influence MPs but is forgotten about as he is a man. lead northern organisations. 'organisational genius'
• why were the acts repealed?

  James Stansfeld. a radicalistic and feminist. known for his prestige and political experience. part of Gladstones cabinet and member of the Select Committee making sure liberal voice was always heard. middle class women and him had tension as they thought men had too much influence in the movement. Stansfeld able to attract support from clergymen and medical experts.
• why were the acts repealed?

  tactics used. 1) pamphlets, petitions and publications. 1870 Jan 1st in the 'Daily News' highlighting 'steel rape' in the 'Ladies Protest'. 2.6 mill names on petitions 2) widespread support. TU and William Lovett had no link to it but still supported and medical professionals National Medical Association for Repeal. 3) lobbying MPs and interfering in elections such as Childers
• why were the acts repealed?

  parliamentary support from Gladstone who was PM 4 times, Bright who helped in corn law repeal and Forster who helped with education act. as well as Lord of Admiralty. as well as support from Trade Unions like William Lovett and Joseph Arch and Birmingham and Nottingham association.
• the LNAs reasons for repeal:

  1. acts passed in secret
  2. they undermined legal protection
  3. offences were unclearly defined
  4. unfairly punished one sex
  5. made path to evil easier for men
  6. cruel and degrading
  7. increased disease
  8. solution had to be more moral than physical
• The LNA

  1869 124 women signed a petition to protest against the acts and this increased to over 2,000
• the 1862 committee

  • 1857 est royal commission on health of the army
  • 1860 found 37% in hospital were fro STDs and 25% for fever