About the book
Gilded Age cities offered extraordinary opportunities to women — but at a price. As clerks, factory hands, and professionals flocked downtown to earn a living, they alarmed social critics and city fathers, who warned that self-supporting women were just steps away from becoming prostitutes. With in-depth research possible only in a mid-sized city, Sharon E. Wood focuses on Davenport, Iowa, to explore the lives of working women and the prostitutes who shared their neighborhoods.
The single, self-supporting women who migrated to Davenport in the years following the Civil War saw paid labor as the foundation of citizenship. They took up the tools of public and political life to assert the respectability of paid employment and to confront the demon of prostitution. Wood offers cradle-to-grave portraits of individual girls and women — both prostitutes and “respectable” white workers — seeking to reshape their city and expand women’s opportunities. As Wood demonstrates, however, their efforts to rewrite the sexual politics of the streets met powerful resistance at every turn from men defending their political rights and sexual power.
Editions of The Freedom of the Streets
- Hardcover
- ISBN 9780807829394
- Paperback
- ISBN 9780807856017
- EBook
- ISBN 9780807876534
- PDF
- ISBN 9798890871312
Read an Excerpt
Gilded Age cities offered extraordinary opportunities to women — but at a price. As clerks, factory hands, and professionals flocked downtown to earn a living, they alarmed social critics and city fathers, who warned that self-supporting women were just steps away from becoming prostitutes. With in-depth research possible only in a mid-sized city, Sharon E. Wood focuses on Davenport, Iowa, to explore the lives of working women and the prostitutes who shared their neighborhoods.
The single, self-supporting women who migrated to Davenport in the years following the Civil War saw paid labor as the foundation of citizenship. They took up the tools of public and political life to assert the respectability of paid employment and to confront the demon of prostitution. Wood offers cradle-to-grave portraits of individual girls and women — both prostitutes and “respectable” white workers — seeking to reshape their city and expand women’s opportunities. As Wood demonstrates, however, their efforts to rewrite the sexual politics of the streets met powerful resistance at every turn from men defending their political rights and sexual power.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Freedom of the Streets about?
Gilded Age cities offered extraordinary opportunities to women — but at a price. As clerks, factory hands, and professionals flocked downtown to earn a living, they alarmed social critics and city fathers, who warned that self-supporting women were just steps away from becoming prostitutes. With in-depth research possible only in a mid-sized city, Sharon E. Wood focuses on Davenport, Iowa, to explore the lives of working women and the prostitutes who shared their neighborhoods.
The single, self-supporting women who migrated to Davenport in the years following the Civil War saw paid labor as the foundation of citizenship. They took up the tools of public and political life to assert the respectability of paid employment and to confront the demon of prostitution. Wood offers cradle-to-grave portraits of individual girls and women — both prostitutes and “respectable” white workers — seeking to reshape their city and expand women’s opportunities. As Wood demonstrates, however, their efforts to rewrite the sexual politics of the streets met powerful resistance at every turn from men defending their political rights and sexual power.
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in The Freedom of the Streets?
Society and Social Sciences > Society and culture: general > Social groups, communities and identities > Gender studies, gender groups > Gender studies: women and girls
Where can I read a sample of The Freedom of the Streets?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9780807829394
How long is The Freedom of the Streets and how many pages does it have?
The Freedom of the Streets has 344 page(s)
Is The Freedom of the Streets part of a series, and can it be read as a standalone?
Yes it is a part of series Gender and American Culture
Who is/are the Author/s of the book The Freedom of the Streets?
Sharon E. Wood
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
The Freedom of the Streets is available as hardcover(ISBN 9780807829394) and paperback(ISBN 9780807856017) and ebook(ISBN 9780807876534) and pdf(ISBN 9798890871312)
Where can I buy The Freedom of the Streets online or support local independent bookshops?
You can buy The Freedom of the Streets from below
Where can I buy The Freedom of the Streets?