Josephine Butler was living in Liverpool when she began helping poor and desperate women, taking some into her own home. In 1869 she began leading a national campaign against the Contagious Diseases Acts, laws that let police detain women and force them into medical examinations. For a woman to speak about such things in public was shocking, and she faced angry mobs. After 17 years of campaigning, the Acts were repealed in 1886.
Josephine Butler
Women's Rights Campaigner
EXTRA-ORDINARY TRAIT
EMPATHY
JFDI PILLAR
J — JUDGMENT
COUNTRY & REGION
England (UK & Ireland)
LIFESPAN
1828 – 1906
GENDER
Woman
EDITION
No.039
✦ DEFINING MOMENT
Mid speech to a packed hall, filling the frame.
✦ ARCHIVAL DOSSIER
The Story
✦ DID YOU KNOW?
She also campaigned across Europe against the trafficking of women and girls.
✦ YOUR TURN
Who needs you to say the uncomfortable thing out loud?