ABSTRACT
Josephine Butler's position exercised a direct influence on the development of the women's movement in Germany from the 1890s onwards. In both England and Germany, a broadly similar view of the nature of the sexes was held and gradually reinforced by advances in the scientific and medical fields from the mid 19th century onwards. In Germany ideas of Geschlechtscharakter were expressed in terms of the essential polarity and complementarity of the sexes. The dominant 19th century image of the prostitute in both Britain and Germany is remarkably similar and it emphasises the corrupted, deviant nature of the women themselves. The theory of Cesare Lombroso that some women, through an innate moral defect, are simply born to be whores was highly influential in Germany. German campaigners were deeply indebted to Butler's analysis and were inspired by the success of her campaign in Britain. Butler's campaign called into question the models of sexuality on which the Acts were based.
