"Perilous Promiscuity: The Amalgamation of Prostitution and Promiscuity During World War I in Texas and the Nullification of Women's Habeas Corpus Rights."

During the decades leading up to World War I, many Texas cities had established flourishing red-light districts where prostitution was an accepted if not always legal endeavor, however, the beginning of World War I led to the closure of these districts and increased fear of female sexuality.   A significant aspect of this progressive change was an increase in the subversion of female sexuality through campaigns to protect soldiers from supposedly promiscuous women.  The spread of sexually transmitted disease was a problem during World War I, but the singular focus of women as the sole carriers was a change from former progressive attitudes of women as sexual victims.  These fears attached to the moral tendencies of progressive reformers, led to the amalgamation of prostitution and promiscuity during the Progressive Era, which resulted in the denial of many women’s habeas corpusrights.

Detention centers were established during World War I where women could be held indefinitely, tested regularly for venereal disease, all without any reliable proof of their employment as prostitutes.  Detaining women, many of whom were innocent, in reclamation centers was an obvious infraction against their civic rights, and yet it was considered acceptable since it was done as part of a war effort to stamp out sexual deviancy and disease transmission.  Numerous women filed habeas corpus lawsuits against the cities and institutions that infringed upon their rights during World War I, and this study will uncover the history of this nullification of women’s rights in Texas.