|
 |
 |
|
|
|
** This is an archived, static copy of the Casebook messages boards dating from 1998 to 2003. These threads cannot be replied to here. If you want to participate in our current forums please go to https://forum.casebook.org **
Victorian Prostitution
Casebook Message Boards: Ripper Victims: Ripper Victims:
Victorian Prostitution
Author: Brenda L. Conklin
Tuesday, 25 June 2002 - 10:22 pm |        | I've never seen anyone tackle this particular aspect of prostitution....
The women in the East End would be out every night trying to make the money for doss and for alcohol. I dare say the alcohol money came first!
However, most healthy women of child-bearing age have menstrual cycles anywhere from 3 to 5 days, more or less. Does anyone know how the women handled this? It would make sense to me for women to form cliques that help each other along...a group of 3 to 6 women with differing cycles that help one another along during that time? A woman might not make enough to support another person during that time, but several women banded together could make it work if they have differing cycles.
A possible theory as to a connection between the victims? Period pals? LOL.
Although Kate especially would have been getting to the age where menopause was a possibility, if not a reality.....
Love, Lita |
Author: Jack Traisson
Wednesday, 26 June 2002 - 12:26 am | | Hi Lita,
Welcome to the boards!!!
Interesting observation. This is why we need more female views on this case.
I read somewhere recently that menstruation in English women ceases at an average age of 46. Since life expectancy was shorter in Victorian England it is safe to assume this number would be the same or lower then. It is possible that only Mary Kelly still had her period. Nichols was 42 (almost 43), Chapman was 47, Stride was 44 (almost 45), and Eddowes was 46.
In my opinion, out of the canonical five, Stride and Kelly were the only full-time prostitutes. Nichols and Chapman were known to do casual work, Eddowes just returned from hop picking. When that time of the month arrived, perhaps the average prostitute looked for casual work. If their cycles were regular, it would be easier to plan.
Although you may have stumbled on to something in regards to Kelly. Is this the reason she took in female lodgers? Because Barnett wasn't working (having lost his job as a porter sometime that summer), and a few days a month Kelly couldn't offer full service, yet there was still food, drink, and rent money required. She may have been sub-letting a few days a month after Barnett lost his job.
Cheers,
John |
Author: Robeer
Wednesday, 26 June 2002 - 03:57 am | | Brenda,
Did you mean 3 to 5 weeks, more or less? Or were you referring to duration of the monthly cycle?
Robeer |
Author: Brenda L. Conklin
Wednesday, 26 June 2002 - 06:18 am | | Robeer -
3 to 5 days for a menstrual cycle to complete. It is usually an average of 28 days between the cycles (the human body is a wonderful, complex machine).
I found out there is a book at my local library dealing with the subject of contraception/abortion in the 1800's. I'll go get it and see if I can learn anything to shed some light on the subject.
Love,
Lita |
Author: NR Tomasheski
Thursday, 27 June 2002 - 07:00 pm | | Malnutrition frequently results in absent or minimal menstrual periods. I think it is likely that these women were not much troubled. Hormonal imbalance conditions, such as diabetes, thyroid disorders, pituitary disorders, and hypothalamus disorders, can also have the same effect.
I believe, but do not have a good reference to hand (so shouldn't say anything until I check it out, but I'm gonna anyway), that some venereal disesases which result in scarring of the ovariducts and/or cervix, can also lead to amennhorreha. I'm thinking of PID and Chlamydia specifically, but can't be sure -- I have Diagnostic Microbiology books here, but they don't deal much with symptoms. I need my Merck! It is likely that most prostitutes suffered from at least mild venereal disease.
And the concept of "pratices" enters here, as well: if vaginal intercourse wasn't required, the issue would be less of a concern, and some of the men might not mind the extra lubricant anyway. Rags were wadded into the undergarments to sop up the menstrual fluid, so if there were much quantity it would cover not only the vaginal area but the anal and perineum, and so a gentleman would not be able to avoid it in any of those configurations (vaginal, anal, and 'tween the legs). Oral or manual stimulation would be the remaining options.
Interesting topic!
NRT |
Author: NR Tomasheski
Friday, 28 June 2002 - 11:28 am | | Checked my Merck Manual last night. There is no reference to amenhorrea secondary to STDs, so (while conceivable) that's not a common cause. Just wanted to update.
NRT |
Author: Brenda L. Conklin
Saturday, 06 July 2002 - 10:26 pm | | Okay, I have been reading my library book, "Contraception and Abortion in 19th Century America" by Janet Farrell Brodie. So far in the book it has been made clear that most women from the 1700 and 1800's who wished to limit the size of their families practiced either withdrawal of the penis before ejaculation, douching immediately after intercourse, or abortion after the fact. I can't imagine MJK, Liz Stride and the rest walking around with douching solutions, so I would assume they requested their partners to withdraw? And then abortion if all else failed.
Pretty interesting to note that abortion was not considered the big deal it is today. Women often drank teas made from herbs to stimulate uterine contractions, and I notice pennyroyal is mentioned over and over.
Also, contraceptive advice in America was fairly well common to find in pamphlets in the 1800's up until around 1870, when laws were passed banning printed contraception advice! I wonder if the British were a little more advanced around that time?
There sure are a lot of advantages to living in a sexually enlightened era! These women back in the day worried about conception constantly and some women had failure of contraceptive measures so often that another pregnancy could send them deep into despair.
And how nice to know that no one is going to go mad from syphilis in this day and time!
Love, Lita |
Author: Neil K. MacMillan
Saturday, 17 August 2002 - 10:01 pm | | | There are other possibilities also. Given the profession might they practice oral or anal sex to earn their way while discomfitted? neil |
|
|
|
|
