Prostitution was also common at the time of Jack the Ripper, but it was seen as less of a taboo in Victorian times. Even though prostitution was never illegal in Victorian London, it was certainly frowned upon by those of an upper class, though it was thought perfectly acceptable, by Victorian society’s double standards for a well to do gentlemen to visit “ladies of the night” in special night-houses. Victorian middle class ladies were thought of as untouchable guardians of morality. Victorian men would feel that they were doing their wives a favour by taking their sexual desires elsewhere. In addition, 19th century doctors claimed that sex was less harmful if carried out without love or passion, therefore sex with a prostitute would be seen as less ‘deranged’ than bedding the wife. It even went as far as in the mid 1700s, where a book aimed at wealthier members of society entitled “Harris’s Guide To Covent Garden Ladies” was published. Containing such detailed descriptions of infamous characters such as “Miss B. Number 18 Old Compton Street, Soho… fraught with every perfection… she plays on the pianoforte, sings, dances, and is the mistress of every manoeuvre in the amorous contest that can enhance the coming pleasure…fine auburn hair, dark eyes and very inviting countenance… in bed she is all the heart can wish…her price £2.” From common streetwalkers to noted actresses all adorned this occupation. Allegedly such was the acceptance of prostitution in London at the time that even ladies of high birth dabbled in the art, as it was even viewed as a pathway into society. Children as young as 12 or 14 would be taken into prostitution, as virgins were especially prized and a highly marketable commodity, fetching anywhere between £5 and £ 25; a large amount of money as in 1880 the average wage for a skilled worker was £62 a year. The most “practical” advantage for child prostitutes was that there was a lesser chance of catching sexually transmitted diseases, because as you would imagine, in Victorian times where hygiene was low, diseases like syphilis and gonorrhoea were wisespread. To overcome these growing diseases, in 1864 the first of the Contagious Diseases Acts was passed. It required any allegedly ‘diseased’ prostitute to undergo an inspection. If she was found to be infected, she could be held in a Lock Hospital for up to 3 months. The Contagious Diseases Act of 1866 allowed a special police force to order women to undergo fortnightly inspections for up to a year. By 1869, the Contagious Diseases Act required prostitutes to be officially registered; this was just another way of showing how acceptable prostitution was in Victorian London.
In 1841 Greater London had a population of 2 million. According to modern historians, a 19th century city would commonly have 1 prostitute per 36 inhabitants, or 1 per 12 adult males, which would yield 55,000 prostitutes. Prostitution was actively condemned by the upper classes, but was regarded by the lower classes as an acceptable occupation for a poor, but independent workingwomen.
