The Queen's Daughters in India

"The Queen's Daughters in India" by Elizabeth W. Andrew and Katharine C. Bushnell is a historical account likely written in the late 19th century. This work explores the grim realities faced by women in India under the British military's regulation of prostitution, detailing the suffering and systemic oppression they endured through state-sanctioned practices. It sheds light on the moral and ethical implications of these practices, drawing attention to the plight of vulnerable women who were often coerced into a life of servitude and degradation. At the start of the text, the authors introduce the historical context of their mission to investigate and expose the exploitation of women in British Cantonments in India. They recount a troubling tradition that highlights the origins of a degrading system where British soldiers were licensed to consort with native women, leading to a cycle of abuse. As they navigate the complexities of military bureaucracy, they discuss the forced licensing of prostitution and the brutal examinations mandated by authorities, revealing the stories of girls who were caught in this system from a young age. The authors emphasize their commitment to advocating for these women and documenting the oppressive regulations that govern their lives, aiming to gather evidence of the systemic injustices they face.