Text

theses

My rationale for this study is investigating the motives behind the male investment in white slavery during the turn-of-the-century America. Why did males concern themselves with the ancient problem of prostitution? The first chapter, “Vigilance and Investigation,” studies the different vice commissions, white slave crusaders, and reformers of New York City and their fight against political corruption and lack of law enforcement. The Rockefeller Grand Jury and the Immigration Commission also investigated the white slave traffic, which revealed the existence of white slavery. By 1910, Congress was moved to pass the Mann Act, which made it illegal for the interstate travel of women for immoral purposes. In Chapter 2, “Journalism and Cultural Productions,” I discuss the impact that the media and other cultural productions such as novels, magazine articles, and film had on the public’s view and knowledge on subjects of commercialized vice and white slavery. Cultural productions aided the work of reformers by publicizing the problems of commercialized vice, but hurt reformers by exaggerating facts and even making the public skeptical. Reformers published their works and findings in different ways, some believing in keeping their work in the circle of other reformers and other organizations, while some made them publicly available through magazines, books, and pamphlets. There were different reasons why men invested in the problem of white slavery, whether they invested in reform work, journalism, or other cultural productions. Many wanted to uplift society and prevent innocent women and children from falling into the degrading life of crime or prostitution. Some sought profit from the white slave hysteria. Others wanted to expose the corruption of the municipality and police and sought legislation reform and improvement of the justice system. Reformers and antivice activists succeeded in closing down red light districts, but prostitutes became streetwalkers that were suppressed underground and transformed into “call girls.” The issue of sex work continues to the current day on an international level. Also, human trafficking still exists to the current day and can be historically tracked back to white slavery.

ETD_7352

M.A.

Includes bibliographical references

by Sarah E. Curry

doi:10.7282/T3PC34MZ

ETD graduate

The author owns the copyright to this work.