Men and Women in the Wild West: Production of a Red-Light District

Since the 1980s studies of prostitution, a key component of red-light districts, have focused almost exclusively on female sex workers. While an important corrective to the omission of women from historical accounts of the West, the roles played by men in the construction, organization, and experiences offered by red-light districts have been largely ignored.

This talk, Men and Women in the WildWest: Production of a Red-Light District in Ouray, Colorado by Dr. Mary Van Buren, of Colorado State University, re-integrates men into the analysis of the Vanoli Block, an infamous part of the red-light district in late 19th and early 20th century Ouray. Multiple masculinities—including the middle and upper-class Victorian men who organized the construction and operation of the district, working class patrons, and Chinese laundry workers—as well as women engaged in the sex trade, are implicated in the creation of this distinctly Western venue.

Lecture is free and open to the campus and community. Attending in person? Please plan to arrive before 7 PM to be let in as doors to Eaton Humanities lock at 5 PM. CU students can access the building after hours with a valid Buff OneCard.

Register here