The Lost Sisterhood: Prostitution in America, 1900-1918

I have an abiding interest in the social history of the first two decades of the 20th century, a time period often neglected in standard history courses. This book is an interesting and scholarly review of the lives and work of prostitutes and their role in society - and it includes background from the 19th century and a bit of information on the evolution of prostitution into what it is now. Parts of the story are almost unbearably grim - which is unavoidable if one is to be truthful. One cannot read about the Chinese girls imprisoned in the "cribs" until their premature deaths without feeling ill. The range from the best-kept brothels to the 50-cent houses to the 'cribs' to the streetwalkers, and the role of the police in maintaining these systems, is well-described. I was especially interested in what Jane Addams thought about how the restricted social role that all 19th century American women were judged by created the roles of both the 'respectable woman' and the prostitute. For the 'respectable woman," fear of being forced out of a man's protection and onto the streets was enough to control her behavior.

This is a very enlightening read on a topic that most people avoid talking about. So many good things in this book it is a must for anyone who is looking at women in the early 1900s and their employment prospects.

Good book

Skipped over a lot, but on the whole I found it interesting. Life in the sisterhood is not much different as it is to day.

An even-handed examination of working women's history in America. It provides deep & wide insight into how women got into the business of prostitution, stayed there, died in it, or left it. The book is as current today as it was when first published in 1982, as is the turn-of-the-century business era it examines. An excellent read and is a 'to include' in women's history reference/biblio lists.

fast shipment as described.

Mostly repetitive and boring. I skipped over half of it. Some parts were interesting though.,as I love history. It just seemed like the book went over and over the same things or was just too long in words on some topics.

nice book...