Class and reproductive control: birth control access and hygiene among prostitutes in turn of the century northern Idaho

Summary

Excavations of two brothels in the northern Idaho town of Sandpoint presented a unique opportunity to explore the nuances of economic differences in the lives of two groups of prostitutes. Over 100,000 artifacts were recovered, providing a rich accounting of a brothel that catered to local mill workers and a brothel whose clientele was more affluent. Further, such a large volume of materials resulted in the recovery of relatively esoteric materials such as douching nozzles and a variety of products that, as a group, suggest a greater degree of reproductive control among the women working in the more affluent brothel.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Archaeological Perspectives toward Medicine and Global Health   •
• Society for American Archaeology 82nd Annual Meeting, Vancouver, BC (2017)

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Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 16643