Dressmakers and Seamstresses

[arthurk]

A couple of times recently I've come across the suggestion that a woman described in a census as a dressmaker or seamstress might have been using this as a euphemism, since she was involved in something much less wholesome. Is there any evidence to support this idea, please?

Arthur

[Peter Goodey]

Somewhere I've seen a reference which suggests that some prostitutes described themselves (or were described) as dressmakers. Unfortunately, I can't lay my hands on it at the moment.

I rather suspect that Chinese whispers and the usual processes of urban myth have turned this observation on its head and transformed it into the claim that many people described as dressmakers were actually prostitutes.

This is of course not the same thing at all.

On the other hand, you could try the 1881 census which is indexed on occupation and try searching for 'prostitute' or 'common prostitute'. You'll see that many of them were in institutions of one sort or another but others who weren't didn't seem worried about calling a spade a spade.

[Mythology]

On the one hand, I suppose it is possible that the use of the term "Dress House" to describe a type of brothel may have led to exaggeration of the situation.
In "The Miseries of Prostitution" (James Beard Talbot, 1844), the author, possibly oversimplifying in order to neatly pigeonhole everything, classifies brothels as being of three types:
1. Regular brothels.
2. Dress Houses.
3. Accommodation Houses.

He describes Dress Houses thus:
"They are houses where a number of females are kept, who receive no other renumeration than their board or lodging. These females are generally decoyed into such receptacles of infamy, and are the most abject slaves. Upon their introduction they are stripped of the apparel, with which parental care or friendly solicitude had clothed them, and are decked in the gaudy attire furnished by the keeper of the house. They are then compelled to walk the streets, closely watched by a female (sometimes a child!), employed for that purpose. All the wages of their iniquity passes into the hands of the master or mistress, they never being allowed to receive any money. During the day they are clothed in such a manner as effectually to prevent their escape. When they are no longer serviceable, they are turned into the streets. This is the faithful, but revolting picture of a dress house."

So - the "Dress House" has no connection with dressmakers or seamstresses!

(continues)

[Mythology]

Elsewhere, after some calculations showing that Norwich had more prostitutes per adult male than London or Edinburgh, he says ...
"There is, besides the class above described, a very large number of females in Norwich, who deliver themselves up partially to the life of a prostitute, and who are exceedingly reprehensible in their conduct and polluted in their morals, although professedly following other avocations. These are to be found amongst sewing girls, those employed in factories, servants, and even married women."

So - the sewing girls get a look-in, but if you use four-legged dog logic to read into this that all sewing girls were prostitutes, you could equally say that all married women were prostitutes!

(continues)

[Mythology]

However, on the other hand, what we do find is this, in a section where he gives his opinions on the various causes of prostitution:
(My emboldening)

"The second cause of prostitution to which I shall allude, is, the inadequate amount of renumeration for female labour. The public papers have, of late, teemed with the most appalling statements in reference to female labour. It will not, therefore, be necessary for me to detail the system pursued, or the prices paid for it. Let it suffice, that thousands of females, dress-makers, seamstresses, &c. are labouring for fourteen or fifteen hours per day at the trifling renumeration of 3s., 4s., and 5s. per week, with no other dependence. Might I not ask, and ask with confidence, whether this is not a premium to vice? Is it possible that these females can exist honestly, and creditably, and virtuously, upon so paltry a pittance? To steal, they dare not, lest they should bring down upon themselves the vengeance of offended justice; to beg, they are ashamed; prostitution, therefore, presents, for the time being, the most ready means to supply their necessities, and they become prostitutes."

So - there we do have a connection between the occupations, and I rather suspect that these sort of ladies might indeed record themselves as "Dressmaker" or "Seamstress" rather than "Prostitute" on census returns.

[arthurk]

Thank you, Peter and Myth, for your helpful comments. I'd been hoping someone might come up with something contemporary rather than an unsubstantiated modern assertion.

However, none of this can ever really answer the question for any specific girl: was she just a dressmaker, or was she a prostitute as well? Many of the ones I've found were unmarried girls living with their parents, and in general I would think they would have less need or opportunity to supplement their income with prostitution. Other living arrangements may arouse greater suspicion, but short of finding court reports etc, maybe it's something we'll never know for sure.

Thanks again,
Arthur

[Burrow Digger]

Thousands of women stayed with their parents - often to look after them. Many of these women never married at all. It was probably the ONLY way the elderly parents could stay OUT of the workhouses.

Nowadays do the sons and daughters look after their parents?? No they pack them away in old folks homes (euphemistically called seniors homes) and then forget about them.

BD

[Wirral]

Nowadays do the sons and daughters look after their parents?? No they pack them away in old folks homes (euphemistically called seniors homes) and then forget about them.

BDNot all of them. At my husband's suggestion, we converted our home so that my elderly parents could live with us. Two of my best friends regularly travel long distances to support their elderly parents who still live in their own homes. Another did a 30 mile round trip twice a day to help her mother who was terminally ill, but still lived in her own home.
It might be difficult at times, but worth every minute. Especially for me as I have a resident genealogy expert "on tap"! :)