Gender Studies at the William Andrews Clark Memorial Library

The Clark Library holds many early modern texts that admonish sex workers and offer regulations for sexual activity. However, some texts flip the chauvinist script, like Tersia Constantia Muilman’s (c. 1700–1765) The Happy Courtezan (1735) and the anonymous “Woman of Fashion” in the poem “The Temple of Prostitution” (1779). Additionally, themes of sexual health and women’s health are ever-present in our collection. Eighteenth-century writers like Stephen Freeman blamed ill health in women on masturbation, and Daniel Defoe (1660–1731) vigorously opposed contraception and abortion. However, many twentieth and twenty-first century materials in the collection are more progressive in their discussions of sexual health, like Naomi Mitchison’s Comments on Birth Control (1930). The following subsections are a sampling of the collection.

Examples: 

• Ames, Richard. The Female Fire-Ships. : A Satyr against Whoring. In a Letter to a Friend, Just Come to Town. London: Printed for E. Richardson, 1691. Clark Library Rare Book Stacks; PR3315.A37 F45 1691 *: Richard Ames (? –1693) was an English Restoration poet who published many satirical poems. 
• Code, ou nouveau réglement sur les lieux de prostitutions dans la ville de Paris. 1775. Clark Library Rare Book Stacks; RA644.V4 L75 *: The author discusses the history of sex work; blames venereal diseases on Haitian people; the places of sex work; types of sex workers; and regulations on sex workers. 
• Muilman, Teresia Constantia. The Happy Courtezan: Or, the Prude Demolish’d. An Epistle from the Celebrated Mrs. C-- P--, to the Angelick Signior Far-n-l! London: Printed for J. Roberts, 1735. Clark Library Rare Book Stacks; f PR3619.P457 H2 *: Teresia Constantia Muilman (c. 1700–1765) was a British courtesan who wrote about her experiences with sex work in a cheeky and satirical poem. 
• The Character of a Town Misse. London: Printed for W.L., 1675. Clark Library Rare Book Stacks; PR3291 .C457 *: A short description of British sex workers’ mannerisms and actions. 
• Woman of fashion. The Temple of Prostitution : A Poem. Dedicated to the Greatest ***** in Her Majesty’s Dominions. Written by a Woman of Fashion. London: Printed for J. Harrington, 1779. Clark Library Rare Book Stacks; pR3291 .T286 *: An anonymous woman poetically and explicitly describes the bodies and work of sex workers.

Examples:

• Ostervald, Jean Frédéric. The Nature of Uncleanness Consider’d : To Which Is Added a Discourse Concerning the Nature of Chastity, and the Means of Obtaining It. London: Printed for R. Bonwicke, 1708. Clark Library Rare Book Stacks; HQ19 .O85E 1708 *: Jean Frédéric Ostervald (?–1747) was a Protestant Minister in Neuchâtel, Switzerland. Topics in the book include uncleanness in the Old and New Testaments; adultery; sins and punishments; the causes of uncleanness, including ignorance, bad education, books, and impunity; chastity; motives for chastity, including virtue, divine will, death, and the presence of God; and avoiding temptation. 
• Proust, Claude. Reflexions chretiennes sur la virginité : adressées à une personne à qui Dieu a inspiré depuis long-tems le dessein de luy en faire un vœu. Orleans: Chez Pierre Rouzeau, 1693. Clark Library Rare Book Stacks; BV4647.V8 P96 *: Christian reflections on virginity and chastity. 
• Whatley, Robert, Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons. Committee of Enquiry into the Abuses of the Ecclesiastical Courts., and Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons. Committee of Enquiry into the Abuses of the Ecclesiastical Courts. Discourse Made to a Person in a Country Parish Church, October 1, 1732. Doing Penance for the Sin of Fornication. Most Humbly Recommended to the Consideration of the Late Committee, of the Honourable House of Commons, of Enquiry into the Abuses of the Ecclesiastical Courts London: Printed for J. Clarke , 1733. Clark Library Rare Book Stacks; Pam. coll.

Examples:

• Defoe, Daniel. Conjugal Lewdness: Or, Matrimonial Whoredom. Menston: Scolar Press, 1970. Clark Library Press Collection; Press coll. Scolar 003: A fine press reprint of Daniel Defoe’s (1660–1731) 1727 essay. Topics include the institution of matrimony; matrimonial chastity; the need for mutual affection in couples before marriage; Defoe’s opposition to contraception and abortion; loving another person while married; and having sex while pregnant.
• Douglas, G. Archibald. The Nature and Causes of Impotence in Men, and Barrenness in Women, Explained : With the Methods by Which It May Be Known in Any Cases on Whose Part the Imperfection Lies : And Instructions for the Prevention and Remedy : Also the Consequences of a Commerce with Eunuchs : And of Self-Abuse : Illustrated with a Remarkable Case of a Lady in the West-Indies : And Compleat Directions for a Lady’s Managing Herself in the Nicest Article of Her Health, with Innocent and Effectual Medicines for All the Complaints Incident to That Sex. London: Printed for J. Brett, 1758. Clark Library Rare Book Stacks; HQ19 .D73 *: The author describes gendered causes of infertility in men and women. He blames impotence in men on frequent masturbation and barrenness in women on a lack of sexual activity. The best cure for both genders, Douglas writes, is to hasten marriage and marital relations. 
• Boyveau-Laffecteur, Pierre. Essai sur les maladies physiques et morales des femmes  / par le cit. Boyveau Laffecteur, médecin, propriétaire du Rob Anti-Syphilitique, fournisseur des hôpitaux de la marine, et chargé par le gouvernement de traiter les maladies vénériennes jugées incurables par le mercure. Paris: Chez l’Auteur, 1798. Clark Library Rare Book Stacks; R128.7 .B79 *: Pierre Boyveau-Laffecteur (1743–1812) was a French physician who envisioned women’s physical and moral health as symbolic of France’s post-revolutionary fitness. Topics include the influence of climate, clothing, and diet on the body; puberty; marriage; sterility; and venereal diseases. 
• Freeman, Stephen. The Ladies’ Friend, and Family Physical Library : The Midwifery in This Edition Is by Question and Answer ; with Thirteen Curious Engravings of the Natural and Unnatural Position of the Infant as It Lies in the Womb. : With a True Description and Cure of Every Disease Incident to Married and Single Women, as Well as Those of Young Children.  ...By S. Freeman, M.D. of Kings College University, Aberdeen: And Member of the Society of Polite Arts, Manufactures and Commerce, London. London: Printed for the author, 1787. Clark Library Rare Book Stacks; RA788 .F85 1787 *: Topics include the ills of masturbation; menstruation and how it impacts women’s health; menopause; hysteria in women and melancholy in men; bloody stools; ulcers; barrenness; pregnancy; and cancers. Freeman claims that women, particularly unmarried women, are more predisposed to cancers than men. He provides medical recipes in response to each of the medical topics listed in his text. 
• Mitchison, Naomi. Comments on Birth Control. London: Faber & Faber, 1930. Clark Library Press Collection; Press coll. Gill Lib. 243: Naomi Mitchison (1897–1999), a novelist, birth control advocate, and outspoken socialist, shares observations on sexual freedom and contraception.

To find printed books, pamphlets, manuscripts and fine press books go to UC Library Search. Click on “Advanced Search,” select the “Subject” field, and type either “Sex,” “Prostitution,” “Sexuality,” “Birth control,” “Sexual health,” “Women – Diseases,” “Morale sexuelle,” “Virginity,” “Chastity,” or “Sexual ethics.” To find works by specific authors, select the “Author” field and type “Mitchison, Naomi, 1897–1999),” for example. You can also do a keyword search either in the simple search or in the “Any field” field of the “Advanced Search.” Once you have search results, you can limit to the Clark Library by selecting it from the “UCLA Locations” facet.