Sexuality In City

916 Words2 Pages

Sexuality in the city appears to be seen as a spectacle. The city is a theatre of popular culture with an underworld of prostitution and pornography. Popular culture is diverged with different aspects of sexual activity from in the dance halls to the very streets of Paris and London. Sexuality becomes a part of the everyday life of citizens in the city, as women are definitely involved. Although the prostitution and the whole sexual conduct of the city brings up some fear of the city. The safety and the behaviour of these individuals are a concern for everyone including the police. This calls for the need to have it policed. With the case of the Ripper murders, people are worried about their safety. This also changes the way people view sexuality …show more content…

New spaces were being formed and brought the growth of the famous dance halls. With a variety of entertainment of music and dance, it brought society in as an audience. Although the audience was mixed, this entertainment was designed mainly for a male crowd. The production of female stars performing skirt dances was definitely for men. In Paris, with the development of the particular 'can can' dance, women were lifting up their skirts, flashing their lace petticoats.(Conlin, 57) More and more middle class men were wanting to come in and see the ladies in their dresses and performing for them. This dance was seen as a spectacle and it changed the purpose of these dance halls. Another thing that was happening in the dance halls was prostitution. In an area between the stage and the bar, the promenade had the presence of prostitution, creating a change in behaviour. The whole idea of the dance halls have been changed to a place of sexual activity for middle class men, causing some …show more content…

Issues starting with the behaviour in the music halls and the presence of prostitutes in the promenade. This was not very accepted by all, as the situation of drink and commercial sex was not in good setting for a music hall in any circumstance. Therefore, the empire is forced to stop selling drinks and puts up a curtain between the stage and promenade. The security and behaviour of these music halls was a great concern for the police, but also the prostitution going on the streets. Of course, prostitution caused the fear in the lives of many, and the police. But women did not have any choice, they needed to get their money somehow, in order to survive; in the streets becoming sex objects. The victims of the Ripper murders were the exact same women who were prostitutes forced to the streets earning an income for themselves, but bringing them to their deaths.(Walkowitz, 68) These murders caught the fear of everyone in Whitechapel and also beyond this town. As it caused so much attention citizens demanding for policing in their city. Improvement in security and space environment of the city was needed. Prostitution and the way females were presented definitely changed, becoming a more cautious thing to think about. Women were more afraid of their doings out on the streets and more afraid of the men in their

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