The Regulation Of Prostitution During The Victorian Period

During the Victorian era, women were classified as either being the stay at home mother, or a prostitute. This essay will critically review the statement ‘The regulation of prostitution during the Victorian period – through the contagious disease acts - symbolised a sexual double standard of morality. One that required different standards of chastity for men and women.’ This statement will be reviewed by drawing upon contemporary and historical and sexual double standards. The regulation of prostitution in Britain became a matter of urgency in the middle and later decades of the nineteenth century (Howell, 2000). Moeoever, this essay will also include a description of the Contagious Disease Acts, how it was implemented during the Victorian period, and how it affected the women, and those defined as prostitutes. There is no clear or simple definition of the term prostitution (Levine, 1993 cited in..). According to research, the nature of commercial sex work, and the policies that are implemented and linked to sex work do not have a clear status, especially when examined historically and geographically. However, in Britain, during the modern period, prostitution has become increasingly well defined by legal and medical services. A model of venereal female sexuality was implemented during the nineteenth century. This model informed social policies, which were designed to tackle what was considered to be prostitution’s dangerous, and disturbing ‘ill-effects’. The culmination ofShow MoreRelatedPro Legalization of Prostitution Essay1151 Words   |  5 PagesPro Legalization of Prostitution The world’s largest trade, prostitution, has always found ways to overcome the legal attempts to suppress it. Prostitution has become one of the most common trades throughout the world. Many poor countries have turned to prostitution as an outlet from their economic difficulties. 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