Details of the Acts

What three years were the CD Acts passed?

1864; 1866; 1869

What did the Third Contagious Diseases Act do?

Extended districts; 15-mile radius; Nine-month detention; Fortnightly inspections

Give one piece of evidence the CD Acts had a positive health impact.

Fewer soldiers hospitalised in protected areas; Reduction in scabies; Increased life expectancy

Give two reasons the CD Acts had negative health impacts.

No checks on soldiers; Ineffective treatments; Spread of STDs elsewhere; Cross-contamination; False security

Give three things that happened to arrested women.

Forcible examination; Prison if refused; Detention in lock hospital

Give three ways the Acts had damaging psychological impacts.

Instrumental rape; Public humiliation; Fear and trauma

Aside from imprisonment give two ways the Acts impacted prostitutes.

Fortnightly exams; Police register stigma; Community hostility; Harder access to charities

Give two ways the CD Acts affected all women.

Fear of false accusation; Targeted working-class women; Temporary workers still targeted

What evidence shows the Acts targeted working-class women?

Aimed at common prostitutes

Why did anti-vice campaigners oppose the Acts?

Regulation condoned prostitution

What happened to Mrs Percy?

Falsely accused; Lost job; Committed suicide in 1875

What phrase did Josephine Butler use for examinations?

Instrumental rape

Why did the Acts politicise many women?

Showed male parliamentary hypocrisy and double standards

What group initially supported the Acts?

Medical profession including Acton and The Lancet

Give two other groups that initially supported the Acts.

Some feminists; Clergymen; Newspapers such as The Times