The Constitution Violated : An Essay

Josephine Elizabeth Butler (1828–1906) was a prominent English feminist. This volume, first published anonymously in 1871, explores the legal ramifications of the Contagious Diseases Acts. Butler denounces the Acts for denying women their civil rights and discusses how their repeal, with universal suffrage, would prevent this situation from recurring.

Josephine Elizabeth Butler (1828–1906) was a prominent English feminist who was best known for her controversial campaigns concerning the welfare and civil rights of prostitutes. In 1869 she became the leader of the campaign to limit the extension of the Contagious Diseases Acts. These Acts aimed to control the spread of venereal diseases in the armed forces through mandatory internal examinations and imprisonment for women accused of prostitution. Butler's campaign was instrumental in having the Acts repealed in 1886. In this volume of 1871, Butler denounces the Acts for denying accused women their civil rights, and discusses how repeal, together with universal suffrage and constitutional reform, would prevent this situation from recurring. Butler was one of the first feminists to frame her arguments explicitly through female experiences, and this volume illustrates her approach. For more information on this author, see http://orlando.cambridge.org/public/svPeople?person_id=butljo