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Culture Series: Sex Work in Civil War Washington and Beyond
May 22 @ 6:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Free
Washington, DC saw an unprecedented rise in sex work during the Civil War due to the thousands of Union soldiers who flooded into the city for training. Brothels provided income, shelter, and independence for women who, in some cases, had few other places to turn. They built businesses and turned access to politicians into influence.
The DC neighborhood known as Federal Triangle used to be in DC’s early days, a notorious slum known as Murder Bay and later as Hooker’s Division during the Civil War. The latter name evolved from the usage of that neighborhood as one of the city’s most concentrated red-light districts. The sex work industry exploded during the war due to the heavy presence of soldiers throughout wartime.
But why do we demonize sex workers? Why do we continue to stigmatize sex work?
Join HumanitiesDC and guest curator Katie Kirkpatrick in this Culture Series, which will explore Murder Bay/Hooker’s Division during and after the Civil War. The event will bring together visual representations, experts on Civil War Washington, sex-work historians, and members of today’s sex-work community to discuss how the oldest profession was practiced when it was legal, compared to today’s ongoing struggle to recognize sex work as real work.
The event will begin with a walking tour starting at The Willard Center, 1455 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20004. Please dress comfortably.
ASL Interpretation will be provided.
Registration Event Link
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