6. Strict adherence to traditional gender roles meant many men indulged their submissive sides in London’s many ‘flagellation clubs’
Street girls weren’t the only Victorian “workers” to benefit from the era’s views on intimate relations. According to societal norms, men were supposed to be the dominant force in a marriage, with their wives always quiet, submissive and obedient. This led to many gentlemen visiting dominatrices on the side. These men needed an outlet for their urges to be submissive, and London had no shortage of ‘flagellation houses’ ready to take their money in exchange for special services. The most infamous of these, a Hallam Street brother run by the notorious “governess” Theresa Berkley, closed just one year after Queen Victoria came to the throne. But many more sprang up to take its place.
Such clubs were often fitted out with special B-D-S-M equipment. Ms Berkley herself had invented an apparatus for flogging paying customers. The so-called Berkley Horse was hugely popular, with men as well as with women. In most cases, gentlemen would pay high prices, not just for the services of a female dominant but, more importantly, for discretion. Madams and other brothel owners who guaranteed to protect a customer’s privacy could earn a premium, and most won business through subtle adverts in gentlemen’s journals or simply through word-of-mouth recommendations.
