Bawdy City: Commercial Sex and Regulation in Baltimore, 1790-1915

Bawdy City is a book that explores the social history of Baltimore's prostitution trade and its evolution throughout the nineteenth century, focusing on the relationship between sexuality, capitalism, and law. It shows how the industry survived and thrived in an urban world hostile to its presence, and how it altered the geographies, economy, and policies of Baltimore in profound ways.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 358 pages
Publication date: 16 June 2022
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

A captivating social history of Baltimore's prostitution trade and its evolution throughout the nineteenth century, "Bawdy City" delves into the intricate relationship between sexuality, capitalism, and law. Starting from its colonial origins, prostitution initially emerged as a mere means of survival, but by the 1840s, the rapid growth of urban centers and the shifting dynamics of household labor had given rise to a thriving brothel industry. The women who ran and worked within these brothels were resilient economic agents, navigating and thriving in a hostile urban environment. However, with the emergence of urban leisure industries and policing practices that aimed to eradicate sex establishments, the brothel industry faced a decline, lasting only a few decades. Nevertheless, even during this brief period, brothels and their residents had a profound impact on Baltimore's geographies, economy, and policies. Hemphill's critical narrative of gender and labor highlights how sexual commerce and debates over its regulation shaped the very fabric of an American city.

Weight: 522g
Dimension: 151 x 227 x 23 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781108733281