Channel: Gresham College

Category: Education

Tags: eleanor marxeducationlondonjosephine butlerteresa billington-greiglyon playfairdebatejudith walkowitzpublicacademiaslaverylecturerhetoricvictorianknowledgelord oranmorecriminal law amendment act of 1885william steadsexprostituteshistoryemma goldmancarceral humanitarianismgreshamwhite slaverygresham collegesex workjohn stuart millfeminismcarol leighwomens rights

Description: In the late nineteenth century, highly contentious debates about prostitution were central to broader questions about women’s status within society, including their rights to property, entitlement to suffrage, and claims over their own bodies. Political scandals such as those over the 1860s Contagious Diseases Acts (which criminalized sex workers, not their customers) and the 1885 Maiden Tribute of Modern Babylon (which was the first exposé of child prostitution in the UK) not only reveal attitudes towards the commercialization of the body but have left a legacy that we live with today. A lecture by Joanna Bourke The transcript and downloadable versions of the lecture are available from the Gresham College website: gresham.ac.uk/lectures-and-events/sex-work Gresham College has offered free public lectures for over 400 years, thanks to the generosity of our supporters. There are currently over 2,500 lectures free to access. We believe that everyone should have the opportunity to learn from some of the greatest minds. To support Gresham's mission, please consider making a donation: gresham.ac.uk/support Website: gresham.ac.uk Twitter: twitter.com/greshamcollege Facebook: facebook.com/greshamcollege Instagram: instagram.com/greshamcollege