HumanitiesDC Culture Series: Sex Work in Civil War Washington and Beyond
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 at 6PM starting at The Willard Center, 1455 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20004. Please dress comfortably.
The walking tour will be followed by a panel discussion at 7PM at the Clara Barton Missing Soldiers Office Museum, 437 7th St NW, Washington, DC 20004. Panelists include Dr. Cindy Gueli, Mark Herlong & Lazima Mills. Conversation moderated by Katie Kirkpatrick.
ASL Interpretation will be provided.
Please note: RSVPs are not required for entry, and entry is based on a first-come, first-serve basis. We appreciate your donations, but please note that if the event reaches capacity, donations will not be refundable.
For reasonable accommodation requests regarding access and inclusion, please contact Jimmy Watkins (jwatkins@humanitiesdc.org) no later than five business days before the start of this event.