HISTORY

Economics, Double Standards & the Innocence of Childhood living at it. The girl lets men have sex with her for sa On Juvenile Prostitution in Victorian England young girl helps her working parents, who have seve Adrienne Latson own meals. For her, this is an economic necessity all have. Another example of economic necessity leavin Abstract recounted in one of William T. Stead's articles, as pi Stead procures a young virgin and gives her a choice This paper focuses on the reasons why childhood prostitution expanded in the Victorian era, and promised in exchange for sex, or receiving half that . how society and the media treated the problem. Using sources from the Times of London and concern- partly because he realized the background several books about child sexual abuse during the Victorian era, the author claims that three factors for the bigger money."5 The poor girl might have be, were the key in this epidemic; economics, the double standard regarding sexuality and the image of situation were not dismal. As a member of the poore childhood innocence, which was a new construct in the Victorian era. When faced with starvation, the girl had only one op possessed. Occasionally, Stead ran across mother s ~ A working-class girl, age 14, walks along a street in London, 183 7. The young girl is approached The bold-faced reality of being poor with no govern by a pretty and sophisticated 18 year old woman who asks the girl to accompany her on a walk. death for families as a result of no work is a leading They walk to a brothel house, but the young, innocent girl is unaware of what goes on behind those explosion during the Victorian era. The girls need fc doors. She is forced inside and locked in a back room, where a man enters as she begins to scream. prostitutes than as domestic servants or as workers i: Meanwhile, her mother notices she is missing, and a search ensues. An uncle, hearing rumors on prostitution was largely ignored by those who sough the street, visits the brothel and rescues the poor girl, but not before damage has been done. At least Protection of Young Females and the Prevention of she is not doomed to live a life of prostitution and her story can warn other innocent girls of the Walter's experience with the girl who sells herselffi 1 dangers lurking in the streets ofLondon. Prostitution is known as the world's oldest profession. [Walter] was not touched by the poverty she describ The Bible has references to harlots and ancient civilizations included brothels. So the existence of Walter nor Stead nor the Society acknowledged that prostitution in Victorian England is no surprise. What is a surprise is the rise of juvenile stability and the role this reality played in the high n prostitution, where young female virgins were stolen, sold by their parents, or forced onto the Walkowitz writes that Stead "devoted scant attentio streets just to make enough money to eat. Child prostitution did not end after the Victorian era. capitalism that would lead them to take up prostituti Today, there are sex slave rings where many young, working-class girls are promised a good li fe poverty assistance or renovating the capitalist syster and lots of money, only to end up as captives in brothels. What is it that keeps such a deplorable survive would have caused too great a disturbance a business thriving through the centuries? Simple economics plays a large role, as does the double have implicated more than just the girls and their cu standard regarding sexuality that began in the Victorian era, and a new image of the innocence of government and society as a whole and demanded c childhood that emerged during the 19'h century contributes still to the desire for young victims. Victorian society preferred to believe that girls wen Activists formed committees attempting to outlaw juvenile prostitution, but neglected to address thus perpetuating the idea of the virtuous child that the root problem of economics that keeps such businesses alive. The London Society for the London recounts the trial of a woman accused of lw Protection of Young Females and the Prevention of Juvenile Prostitution was formed in 1834 to Mary Ann, is described as "very childish in her wa) assist young victims. The Society opened asylums for girls who were recovering from prostitution, of other children her age."8 In another Times article and to alert the authorities to houses of ill repute so that these businesses may be closed down. In an victims of seduction" and "unsuspecting little girls.' article in The Times of London, the Society praised itself in how it was "wise in adopting the adults, and in Calvinist religions, children were "ev 2 system of prevention instead of cure." The Society may credit itself with prevention, but in reality resist temptation."10 The romantic poets reinforced only gets involved after the young girls have been made prostitutes. innocence and virtue. Wordsworth, Lewis Carroll,< childhood innocence was something so precious th< This method ignores the reason many girls become prostitutes, specifically the economic aspects, which are outlined by Michael Pearson using excerpts of Walter's book. Walter, "the anonymous 4 Victorian author of a million words of sexual experience, about young working-class teenagers"3 Pearson, Virgin, 33. 5 Ibid., 141. writes about one young girl who does not see herself as a pro~titute because she does not make her 6 Pearson, Virgin, 33. 7 Judith R. Walkowitz, Prostitution and Victorian S (Cambridge: Cambridge, 1980), 250. 8 "Police," The Times ofLondon , 15 April 1840, co 1 9 "Juvenile Prostitution," The Times ofLondon, 25 March 1837, col. A. "Prevention," The Times, col. C. 10 2 "Prevention of Juvenile Prostitution," The Times ofLondon, 8 November, 1838, col. C Louise A. Jackson, Child Sexual Abuse in Victor, 11 3 Michael Pearson, The £5 Virgin (New York: Saturday Review Press, 1972), 12. Jackson, Abuse, 6.

10 HISTORY rds & the Innocence of Childhood living at it. The girl lets men have sex with her for sausage rolls, " meat pies and pastries, too." 4 The ution in Victorian England young girl helps her working parents, who have several other children at home, by securing her tenne Latson own meals. For her, this is an economic necessity allowing her family to subsist on what little they have. Another example of economic necessity leaving little or no choice for young girls is \bstract recounted in one of William T. Stead '. s articles, as paraphrased by Pearson. Through his contacts, Stead procures a young virgin and gives her a choice between taking the full amount of money hood prostitution expanded in the Victorian era, and promised in exchange for sex, or receiving half that amount and leaving untouched. But to " Stead's ,em. Using sources from the Times of London and concern- partly because he realized the background of poverty that dictated the decision- she opted the Victorian era, the author claims that three factors for the bigger money."5 The poor girl might have been virtuous, if only her family' s financial double standard regarding sexuality and the image of situation were not dismal. As a member of the poorest class, she had not the luxury of choice. Jct in the Victorian era. When faced with starvation, the girl had only one option, to sell the only thing of value that she possessed. Occasionally, Stead ran across mothers who were trying to sell their virgin daughters. eet in London, 1837. The young girl is approached The bold-faced reality of being poor with no government assistance, then starvation and certain m who asks the girl to accompany her on a walk. death for families as a result of no work is a leading cause behind the juvenile prostitution rnocent girl is unaware of what goes on behind those explosion during the Victorian era. The girls need food and money, and they could make more as k room, where a man enters as she begins to scream. prostitutes than as domestic servants or as workers in factories. But this contributing factor to child and a search ensues. An uncle, hearing rumors on prostitution was lru·gely ignored by those who sought to help, like the London Society for the >r girl, but not before damage has been done. At least Protection of Young Females and the Prevention of Juvenile Prostitution. Pearson surmises of md her story can warn other innocent girls of the Walter's experience with the girl who sells herself for sausage rolls that "being a man of his time, titution is known as the world's oldest profession. [Walter] was not touched by the poverty she described- only by her quick humour.''6 Neither civilizations included brothels. So the existence of Walter nor Stead nor the Society acknowledged that these girls lacked opportunities for economic . What is a surprise is the rise of juvenile stability and the role this reality played in the high number of juvenile prostitutes. Judith R . stolen, sold by their parents, or forced onto the Walkowitz writes that Stead "devoted scant attention to the economic exploitation of women under I prostitution did not end after the Victorian era . capitalism that would lead them to take up prostitution on a voluntary basis." 7 An article about mng, working-class girls are promised a good life poverty assistance or renovating the capitalist system that forces young girls into prostitution to 1 brothels. What is it that keeps such a deplorable survive would have caused too great a disturbance among society because such a stance would : economics plays a large role, as does the double have implicated more than just the girls and their customers: It would have pointed the finger at fictorian era, and a new image of the innocence of government and society as a whole and demanded change. contributes still to the desire for young victims.

Victorian society preferred to believe that girls were tricked into prostitution as innocent victims, aw juvenile prostitution, but neglected to address thus perpetuating the idea of the virtuous child that still persists today. An article in The Times of businesses alive. The London Society for the London recounts the trial of a woman accused of luring an 11 year old girl to a brothel. The victim, n of Juvenile Prostitution was formed in 1834 to Mary Ann, is described as "very childish in her ways, and was easily led away, like the generality ms for girls who were recovering from prostitution, of other children her age."8 In another Times article, the tricked girls are described as " unfortunate ~ so that these businesses may be closed down. In an victims of seduction" and "unsuspecting little girls."9 Previously, children were seen as short ised itself in how it was "wise in adopting the adults, and in Calvinist religions, children were "evil by nature, requiring rigorous discipline to iety may credit itself with prevention, but in reality 10 en made prostitutes. resist temptation." The romantic poets reinforced the new Victorian model of childhood: innocence and virtue. Wordsworth, Lewis Carroll, and J.M. Barrie perpetuated the idea that childhood innocence was something so precious that "adults might long for but never return to." 11 me prostitutes, specifically the economic aspects, .cerpts of Walter's book. Walter, "the anonymous 4 .perience, about young working-class teenagers"3 Pearson, Virgin, 33 . 5 :rself as a prostitute because she does not make her Ibid., 141. 6 Pearson, Virgin, 33. 7 Judith R. Walkowitz, Prostitution and Victorian Society: Women, Class and the State (Cambridge: Cambridge, 1980), 250. 8 "Police," The Times ofLondon , 15 April 1840, col. B. 25 March 1837, col. A. 9 "Prevention," The Times, col. C. es ofLondon , 8 November, 1838, col. C 10 Louise A. Jackson, Child Sexual Abuse in Victorian England (New York: Rutledge, 2000), 5. 1turday Review Press, 1972), 12. 11 Jackson, Abuse, 6.

11 HISTORY

Much attention was paid to this new idea of childhood, and many artists explored the unattainable Men who hire prostitutes were not held liable for virtues of childhood. Pictures of seminude or nude female Victorian children were popular and who provided such services are deemed social ou were considered "sentimental" as opposed to pornographic.12 But the line between innocent protect innocent child victims applied only to girl photographs of a naked child and the exploitative abuse of children in pornography is, even in this protecting or else there is not a large market for n century, blurry. Child pornography became popular and the hunt for virgins for sexual purposes Exeter, who supported the age of consent bill, im became scaled according to the girl' s social class: her own sexuality is different from making prosti could be made to touch the seducer."17 Punishing Men who wanted sex with little girls were prepared to pay a good price, and a standard even young girls, was beyond his understanding• pricing system brought twenty pounds for a healthy working-class girl between the ages prostitution a crime was equally pointless, he be! of fourteen and eighteen; a hundred pounds for a middle-class girl of the same age; and a pW1ishment that could inflict so much of suffer: as much as four hundred pounds for a child from the upper class under age twelve. 13 Punishing the men who bought prostitutes was n< necessary because the amount of shame and adm Fueled by literature, photography and art, men were more inclined to pay for sex with their own prostitute was punishment enough. But there wa~ Lolita and this fantasy of stealing away a girl's innocence and virginity persists to today. Florence women. If the act of selling sex was immoral, sw Rush writes that this attitude toward young girls was complicated by "Victorian modesty, which Girls who were rescued from a life on the streets prevented the discussion of sexual matters, also kept children ignorant of the dangers" that accepted back into the fold of society. And yet th waited. 14 Unlike the lessons given to children today about inappropriate touching, and talking to or the girls' demise are free of shame and legal rep< taking candy from strangers, Victorian children had no such warnings, making them vulnerable to those who promise food, money or even marriage. In reality, many children from working class Economics, childhood innocence and double stru families knew of the brothels, and that men were willing to pay. Their innocence has already been why young girls continue to be seen as sexual ob stolen by poverty and starvation long before the men came searching. The idea of the innocent exists and forcefully taking that away from a girl victim appealed to the middle-class because the alternative- children' s being so poor they sell their sadly, there still exists the "boys will be boys bu1 bodies for food- was too difficult to fathom. Victorians felt the innocent children needed double standards in society. However, women w protection, but what was being protected is not always clear. to be assimilated back into society and the men" law. The protection of young girls and women was not about their sexuality so much as it was about protecting a man's property. Deborah Gorham writes that the age of consent laws were "designed to protect a guardian's right to control a girl 's sexuality, rather than to prevent harm to the girl." 15 Bibliography Tricking a girl into prostitution is more of a crime of property and entitlement than a violation of a girl 's virginity and reputation. A girl who had fallen, whether driven to prostitution by starvation or Gorham, Deborah. "The ' Maiden Tribute ofMrn lured by a smarter, savvier adult, had no place in society. She could not be married off and would and the Idea of Childhood in Late-Vici not be fit to work in a household as a servant. According to Jackson, who wrote Child Sexual Abuse 353-379. in Victorian England, "girls who lost their innocence ... became social misfits who needed retraining and reforming in a specialist institution." 16 These girls paid the price levied by a profit­ Jackson, Louise A. Child Sexual Abuse in Victo driven society and now are seen as worthless, as unable to contribute to society or to their families. This violation injures the father more than the girl, because he must now support her for life, turn "Juvenile Prostitution", The Times ofLondon , 2~ her out into t'1e streets to support herself, or send her away to an institution. All of these options deny him the right to his daughter's wages or her assistance around the house watching the younger "Parliamentary Intelligence: House of Lords", T children. The one thing the young girl possessed that was considered valuable in a patriarchal society was taken from her and yet society believed that her father deserved restitution. Prostitution Pearson, Michael. The £5 Virgins. New York: S was a crime of property, which illustrates the double standard that still exists today. "Police", The Times ofLondon , 15 April 1840, c 12 Florence Rush, The Best Kept Secret: Sexual Abuse of Children (New York: McGraw-Hill, 1980), 59. 13 Rush, Best Kept Secret, 64. 14 Ibid., 65. 17 Parliamentary Intelligence: House of Lords," 15 Deborah Gorham, "The ' Maiden Tribute of Modern Babylon' Re-Examined: Child Prostitution and the Idea of Childhood in Late-Victorian England," Victorian Studies, Spring (1978): 353-379. 18 lbid., col. F. 16 Jackson, Child Sexual Abuse, 6. 12 HISTORY

;hildhood, and many artists explored the unattainable Men who hire prostitutes were not held liable for their criminal actions and yet the girls and women nude female Victorian children were popular and 12 who provided such services are deemed social outcasts. The age of consent laws that were touted to pornographic. But the line between innocent protect innocent child victims applied only to girls. This implies that boys are less likely to need 1tive abuse of children in pornography is, even in this protecting or else there is not a large market for male prostitutes. According to the Bishop of 1opular and the hunt for virgins for sexual purposes Exeter, who supported the age of ".onsent bill, increasing the age at which a girl is responsible for lass: her own sexuality is different from making prostitution illegal. He "could not see how the law could be made to touch the seducer."17 Punishing the men, who paid for the services of prostitutes, rls were prepared to pay a good price, and a standard even young girls, was beyond his understanding of the justice system. And making the act of mds for a healthy working-class girl between the ages prostitution a crime was equally pointless, he believed. The bishop says that no "man could devise :d pounds for a middle-class girl of the same age; and a punishment that could inflict so much of suffering and of degradation as prostitution itself." 18 13 Jr a child from the upper class under age twelve. Punishing the men who bought prostitutes was not an option and punishing a prostitute was not necessary because the amount of shame and admonition that resulted in a woman becoming a 1 were more inclined to pay for sex with their own prostitute was punishment enough. But there was no amount of shame levied on the men, only the s innocence and virginity persists to today. Florence women. If the act of selling sex was immoral, surely the act of buying sex was immoral as well. rls was complicated by "Victorian modesty, which Girls who were rescued from a life on the streets were forever labeled as outcasts and never ;o kept children ignorant of the dangers" that accepted back into the fold of society. And yet the men whose money and sexual desires facilitated today about inappropriate touching, and talking to or the girls' demise are free of shame and legal repercussions. ·n had no such warnings, making them vulnerable to age. In reality, many children from working class Economics, childhood innocence and double standards of gender expectations are some reasons ~re willing to pay. Their innocence has already been why young girls continue to be seen as sexual objects today. The idea of childhood innocence still ie men came searching. The idea of the innocent exists and forcefully taking that away from a girl is considered an achievement by some men. And 1e alternative- children's being so poor they sell their sadly, there still exists the "boys will be boys but girls will be sluts" mentality that perpetuates the 'ictorians felt the innocent children needed double standards in society. However, women who have "fallen" in the 21 st century are more likely t always clear. to be assimilated back into society and the men who solicit these women are now punishable under law. not about their sexuality so much as it was about writes that the age of consent laws were "designed 15 ;exuality, rather than to prevent harm to the girl." Bibliography me of property and entitlement than a violation of a fallen, whether driven to prostitution by starvation or Gorham, Deborah. "The 'Maiden Tribute of Modern Babylon' Re-Examined: Child Prostitution in society. She could not be married off and would and the Idea of Childhood in Late-Victorian England," Victorian Studies, Spring (1978): \ccording to Jackson, who wrote Child Sexual Abuse 353-379. 1cence ... became social misfits who needed 16 on." These girls paid the price levied by a profit­ Jackson, Louise A. Child Sexual Abuse in Victorian England. New York: Routledge, 2000 . .s unable to contribute to society or to their families. ~irl, because he must now support her for life, turn "Juvenile Prostitution", Th e Times ofLondon , 25 March 1837, col. A. 1d her away to an institution. All of these options er assistance around the house watching the younger "Parliamentary Intelligence: House of Lords", The Times ofLondon , 15 June 1844, col. F. d that was considered valuable in a patriarchal ~ved that her father deserved restitution. Prostitution Pearson, Michael. The £5 Virgins. New York: Saturday Review, 1972. Jubie standard that stil I exists today. "Police'', Th e Times ofLondon , 15 April 1840, col. B. Abuse of Children (New York: McGraw-Hill,

17 Parliamentary Intelligence: House of Lords," The Times ofLondon, June 15, 1844, col. F. 1odern Babylon' Re-Examined: Child Prostitution ~land , " Victorian Studies, Spring (1978): 353-379. 18 lbid., col. F.

13 HISTORY Motive t "Prevention of Juvenile Prostitution", The Times ofLondon , 8 November 1838, col. C. Renee 1'

"Protection of Young Girls", The Times ofLondon , 22 July 1882, col. B. Abs

McHugh, Paul. Prostitution and Victorian Social Reform. New York: St. Martin's, 1980. The surprising results of this research in the Tin Rush, Florence. The Best Kept Secret: Sexual Abuse of Children. New York" McGraw-Hill, 1980. many families turned to infanticide in order to escape financial despair. Newspaper articles an Sanger, William W. The History of Prostitution: Its Extent, Causes and Effects Throughout the crime and show the connection between child lift World. New York: Eugenics, 1939. that few parents were tried and sentenced for deaths had been committed in order to receive ir Walkowitz, Judith R. Prostitution and Victorian Society: Women, Class, and the State. New York: of proof allowed many guilty individuals to walk Cambridge, 1980. A young woman named Ms. Brake was found to 1824. The female child had been strangled to de a nearby churchyard. 1 Similarly, Mrs. Jenkins, b afternoon, murdered her child by chopping off it: Tildesley, of excellent character, until succumbir poisoned her six year old daughter with half a cu accounts portray the ways in which infanticide, t neglect, was executed during the nineteenth cent examples that those involved with these crimes 2 taken to court, more often than not, juries would punishment being the death penalty. Guilty indi Adrienne is a senior and an English composition major. She wrote this paper companies would have no choice but to give the for Dr. Zwicker's T390 class. acts, such as overlaying and poisonings, were al: were easily mistaken as accidents by coroners ar benefits. This research paper will look at prima1 examine how families deliberately killed their cl more was not done by officials to reform legisla1 difficult crime to prove.

The nineteenth century found many struggling f; During this time many parents worked factory jc their families. Due to this, many were forced tc result living conditions were unsatisfactory and these circumstances, along with the inability to i number of desperate parents take the lives of th< infanticide did not receive much media attentior as many faced uncertain times. Receiving even their children with the intention of obtaining ins author of infanticide, "the death of 'surplus' or 1 times and many women would resort to infantic

1 " Infanticide," The Times (6 October 1824). 2 "Murder by a Mother," The Times ( 19 May 1~ 3 "Extraordinary case of Infanticide," The Time 4 Lionel Rose, Massacre of the Innocents: lnfar

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