Josephine Butler

Josephine Butler (1828-1906) was a Victorian social reformer and a pioneer in advocating for women's rights and social justice. She is best known for her efforts to reform laws related to prostitution and sexual morality, particularly opposing the Contagious Diseases Acts, which unjustly targeted women for medical examination and stigmatization. Butler championed the cause of women's empowerment, education, and health, emphasizing the importance of women's dignity and rights. Her work laid the foundation for later feminist movements and significantly influenced public policy regarding gender and sexuality in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.