Concrete Morals: Spaces of female street prostitution in the port city; A relational study of Kingston-upon-Hull and Rotterdam, 1880s-2010s

This research examines spaces of female street prostitution in Kingston-upon-Hull (UK) and Rotterdam (Netherlands),1880-2020, looking at urban dynamics, geopolitics, and resilience to address the research questions;

i. How are spaces of female street prostitution and locational change 'shaped' by diverse structures of place, i.e., infrastructure, environment, policy and socio-cultural interaction?
ii. Simultaneously, how does female street prostitution impact on urban governance, policing, planning and design?
iii. Through shared geographical and socio-cultural histories, what does relational study of Kingston-upon-Hull and Rotterdam tell us about the production and reproduction of 'moral space'?

Female street prostitution is a significant aspect of the urban scene, demonstrating resilience through locational change; that is, displacement from one 'site' to another in response to urban, social and legal 'intolerance' underpinned by notions of morality (Hubbard,1999). In examining locational change, the objective is to analyse the production and reproduction of 'moral space'
through a combined lens of marginalisation. The marginalised body [engaging with notions of 'visibility' and 'fallen women' (Sanders et al.,2013)], in marginalised space [i.e., red light areas being understood by connotations of depravity (Hubbard,1998)], in marginalised place [i.e., the 'structurally disadvantaged' port city (Wurzel et al.,2019),) with its 'particularly complex social unit' (Gillett and McMahon,1980)].

Relational study of Hull and Rotterdam [engaging with assemblage urbanism theory (McFarlane,2011)] permits analysis of interplay between moral, cultural and political economies in these cities to produce further understanding of the significance of place within urban and human geographies in the experience of marginalisation and the reproduction of moral 'norms'. As existing literature posits, our understanding of 'areas of prostitution' continually evolves, and within that examination of locational change can tell us more about the overall development of urban life (Ashworth et al.,1988).

In summary, this research aims to produce an interdisciplinary study of 'moral/immoral space', engaging with sociological, criminological, urban and legal perspectives. Qualitative research methods include archival study, photo-elicitation and walking methods. This is to allow for historical and contemporary gaze in breaking analytical chapters down into four significant era [Late-Victorian, War, Post-War Redevelopment, Contemporary Landscapes] enabling discussion of comparative moments of urban change.

In exploring 'change' through sex work, the ethical considerations are of key importance given the sensitive topic. Research will draw on community outreach in Hull (Lighthouse Project) and Humanitas Prostitution Social Work (Rotterdam) to provide a safe space to talk with sex workers, former sex workers, police and outreach workers upon their signed consent. Further, walking interviews with all consenting participants (i.e., City of Culture volunteers, residents) as a means to 'show the city' engages with different experiences of urban life. In historical context, engaging with city narratives through archival research (narrative and visual data) is with the aim of communicating with present-day dialogue; looking to the past in order to understand the
present.

Notably, the term 'prostitute' is considered ethically problematic as it is a legal term carrying connotations of deviance and an ideological label separating prostitute-women from all women (Sanders et al.,2013). This research only uses the terms 'prostitute' and 'prostitution' for continuity in engaging with historical context. The dignity and respect of those involved in sex work is of upmost importance to this study; pseudonyms (and no images) are used.