Grad student examines prostitution

Prostitutes may not have the most glamorous lifestyle, but sixth-year History graduate student Beth Clement finds the topic exciting. In the first of a series of talks given by graduate students on American history, Clement traced the development of prostitution in early 20th century New York. The talk, reflecting upon modern-day practices of courtship and sexual behavior, traced the origins of the shift from 19th century Victorian sexual ideology to modern forms of American romance and love. Clement examined the change in emphasis that took place within the confines of New York prostitution near the turn of the century. "The growth of industry in the city made it more profitable for landowners to rent to businesses rather than brothels in the entertainment districts," she said. "New York brothels, while providing protection from violence and police raids, were economically exploitative of the women as room, board and health care made it difficult for prostitutes to make money," Clement added. Over half the profits were immediately turned over to the house's madame, who would maintain a maternal and dominating control over the women. Such disadvantageous conditions within the brothels led prostitutes toward new forms of prostitution in the city's working class neighborhoods. The diffusion of prostitution into working class life took several shapes. New legislation prohibited the sale of alcohol on Sundays, giving rise to "Raines Hotels" or saloons taking advantage of the ability of hotels with ten or more beds to continue serving alcohol on the Sabbath. "Raines Hotels were much less economically exploitative, giving prostitutes a chance to keep all the profits and take a cut on the saloons' drink sales as well," Clement said. And saloon keepers made money on extra drinks and profits from the rooms, paying for police protection and to inform prostitutes on the family situations of the men. "Prostitutes could now dance, joke and socialize with the 'johns' instead of spending the eight to ten minutes previously allowed by a madame," she added. New York's tenements typically had stores -- normally a grocery or butcher shop -- on both the first floor and in the basement where a Raines Hotel would lodge, according to Clement. Based extensively on undercover reports of investigators reporting to vice committees, Clement's research depicts how prostitution became a large and integrated part of tenement life. Prostitutes scattered their rooms throughout the tenements and searched for potential customers in the candy shops, cigar stores and massage parlors of the neighborhoods, according to Clement. "It became accepted as prostitutes would even sometimes ensure protection from police raids by baby-sitting for mothers across the hall until a john arrived. "Women could make up to $30 a night prostituting rather than the normal $7 a week," she said. "Many women used it to augment salaries or make ends meet in times of unemployment." Clement added that as a casual neighborhood feel grew around prostitution -- replacing the business-like atmosphere of the brothel -- defining who was a prostitute became less clear. This trend continued as traditional methods of prostitution gave way to more discreet practices during World War I, when authorities enacted much harsher penalties for prostitution in order to protect soldiers. Eventually later forms of this sexuality became incorporated into working class romance and courtship, according to Clement. The lecture, entitled "Trick of Treat: Prostitution and Working-Class Women's Sexual Morality in New York City 1900-1940," began the America Works-in-Progress Seminar, a series of talks given by graduate students lecturing from a work-in-progress. "We're trying to get together graduate students working on subjects in 20th century America to become aware of what one another is doing and get useful and constructive criticism," said Mark Santow, a fifth-year American History graduate student. The talks should also inform the University community of what American History graduate students are working on, he added.