Josephine Butler

Josephine Butler was a social reformer and advocate for women's rights in the 19th century. She was born on 13 April 1828 in Northumberland and died on 30 December 1906.

Family Life

Josephine Butler was born into a wealthy and progressive family who educated her in politics and various social issues. She was married to Georg Butler, an academic and Anglican clergyman who had similar political views as her, sharing her willingness to fight social injustices.

Campaign Against the Contagious Diseases Acts

She is particularly famous for her campaign against the Contagious Diseases Acts which had been introduced in the 1860s to reduce venereal disease and for the overall aim to regulate prostitution in the armed forces. The police could arrest any woman they believed to be a prostitute and submit her to medical examinations. Although many people were shocked that anyone – particularly a woman – would publicly talk about such sexual matters, Butler openly criticized the unfairness of these acts, arguing that this examination was humiliating and unjustly targeted women only. In Britain, these acts were suspended in 1883 and finally repealed in 1886.

Charity Work and Activism

It is said that Butler became particularly involved in charity work after her youngest daughter Eva died in an accident. Her work focused primarily on women’s rights. Some of the many causes she fought for were related to child prostitution. She was part of a social reform group that pressured parliament to raise the age of consent from 13 to 16. Butler also became increasingly more interested in the higher education of women. By insisting on offering additional educational possibilities for women at Cambridge University, she eventually laid the foundation of the all-women college at Newnham. Consequently, she served as president of the North of England Council for the Higher Education of Women from 1867 to 1873. As such, she helped governesses and female teachers raise their status to that of a profession.

“Butler, Josephine (1828-1906).” English Heritage, 2001, https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/blue-plaques/butler-josephine-butler/. Accessed 27 April 2021. Jordan, Jane. Josephine Butler. Hambledon Continuum, 2001. “Josephine Butler (1828-1906).” BBC History, 2014, http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/butler_josephine.shtml. Accessed 27 April 2021. “Josephine Butler (1828-1906).” Towards Emancipation?, 2020, https://hist259.web.unc.edu/josephinebutler/. Accessed 27 April 2021.