Prostitution in Canada in the 1800s

• What was Canadian prostitution referred to as? What did this reference mean?

  Canadian prostitution was sometimes referred to as "magdelanism." It referred to the story in the Christian Bible: Jesus saved prostitute Mary Magdalene. Ideal women considered saints; prostitutes were seen as fallen angels.
• What did prostitution look like in Canada during the 1800s?

  Prostitution was usually organised around brothels which were grouped in poor neighbourhoods alongside other forms of vice. The creation of railways increased migration westward and brothels appeared along rail lines. These brothels were unlikely to capture the attention of the police unless there complaints: usually tolerated, was ignore otherwise.
• What was prostitution's legal status?

  During post-confederation (1867 - 1917) there were laws regarding vagrancy: (1) being a prostitute was the offence (not the act of selling sex), (2) was a status offence; an offence regardless whether there was criminal behaviour; (3) enforcement was sporadic and unpredictable.
• What caused attitude changes towards prostitution? When did this shift occur?

  There was moral panic regarding prostitution (white slavery) which started in Britain in 1885. There were sensationalised stories of underage girls in England being forced into prostitution abroad. This was published in a British Newspaper.
• What was the impact of this attitude change towards prostitution?

  It prompted investigation by London's Select Committee and social purity laws were introduced.
• How did the United States and Canada respond to this moral panic regarding "white slavery?"

  Reformers confronted and harassed prostitutes and argued no woman would voluntarily enter into prostitution. Immigrant men were blamed and reformers campaigned for racist immigration policies to exclude people of colour – racist laws were introduced.
• In Britain, what provisions were update to the laws surrounding prostitution?

  The range of activities constituting vagrancy in Britain grew to include provisions targeting: pimps, sex-buyers, and brothel keepers. Stricter penalties introduced and applied. This did not translate from theory to practise as convictions of women outnumbered men's.
• What did the attitudinal changes regarding prostitution in Canada look like?

  • Moral reformers' objectives were to abolish the white slavery and other social ills. Their goal was to punish exploiters and rescue women and children from sexual exploitation.
  • Montreal Society for the Protection of Young Women's mandate was to reform prostitutes: (1) expanded to include girls whose families were believed to be at risk; (2) female activists who thought refuges would solve the problem; (3) refuges paid by provincial governments and women referred to by courts.
• How did Canada legally reform prostitution?

  Criminal Law Amendments Act of 1885 in Britain inspired Canadian reform:

  • "Procurring the defilement of a woman" offences added to target Johns (two years of imprisonment).
  • Raised age of consent to carnal knowledge to 14 for girls.
  • Provision related to the seduction of chaste girls aged 14 - 16.
  • The procurement of a girl under 16 could be punished up to 14 years in prison depending on the age of the girl.
• What does prostitution look like in Canada today?

  Prostitution is not a crime, but various activities relating to the exchange of sex for money have been outlawed:

  1. Procuring or living on the avails of prostitution.
  2. Owning, operating, or occupying a bawdy house.
  3. All forms of public communication for the purpose of prostitution.
  4. Knowingly transporting another to a bawdy house.
  5. Purchasing services from someone less than 18.