Society has
a somewhat strange relationship with sex workers. On one hand, they are shamed, punished, and
demonized. On the other hand, we have
movies and stories like Pretty Woman.
Movies, books, and films tend to skirt around prostitutes, making them
one note characters who have little back story.
So it’s
great that a book like this exists.
Richardson’s
book covers all aspects of life. She
does though the use of statistics and data, but also, more importantly, case studies
of prostitutes. The book is split into
sections detailing different aspects of life -
including reasons why the women may have become prostitutes.
It is a
great overview and deepens the understanding of women that by some people get
written simply off as victims.
Richardson doesn’t romanticize or sugar coat the women she writes about
but she doesn’t demonize them either.
She presents them as human as opposed to characters.
She does look at the impact of society – rules in particular created by men - impacted the women from becoming sex workers to how they were treated as sex workers, for instance how laws and punishments were applied. She also focuses on parts of England that are not London.
A great
edition to a library for any reader interested in Victorian England, the history
of sex work, or woman’s history.
Comments
Post a Comment