Policing Sex in the Sunflower State

More about the book

The book examines the historical enforcement of a Kansas law that allowed the state to detain over 5,000 women for having venereal diseases, primarily during the early 20th century. It highlights the gendered nature of the law's application, as women made up a significant majority of those incarcerated at the Kansas State Industrial Farm for Women. The narrative reveals how these women were subjected to moral reform and public health strategies that reflected societal norms of respectability. Nicole Perry's research uncovers the voices of activists, professionals, and inmates, critiquing a public health policy rooted in gender, race, and class biases.