Jack the Ripper and Moral Panics

Anne-Marie Kilday

Jack the Ripper and Moral Panics

Anne-Marie Kilday

Office of Vice Chancellor

Research output: Contribution to Book/Report › Chapter › peer-review

Abstract

This chapter will consider the numerous cultures of fear which prevailed in nineteenth century England and how they contributed to Victorian views on crime, deviancy and society ahead of the Whitechapel murders. A consideration of early examples of what scholar Stanley Cohen has defined as ‘moral panics’ regarding issues such as prostitution and juvenile delinquency, will not only highlight key issues that concerned the Victorian populace, but also emphasise the increasing influence and reach of newspapers in the decades before 1888.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	The Routledge Handbook of Jack the Ripper Studies
Editors	Anne-Marie Kilday, David Nash, Katherine Watson
Publisher	Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group
Chapter	3
ISBN (Electronic)	9781003266082
ISBN (Print)	9781032203348
Publication status	Published - 17 Dec 2025

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

Keywords

Ripper
Ripperology
Whitechapel
Prostitution
Murder victims
Homicide
Serial murder

Cite this

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AB - This chapter will consider the numerous cultures of fear which prevailed in nineteenth century England and how they contributed to Victorian views on crime, deviancy and society ahead of the Whitechapel murders. A consideration of early examples of what scholar Stanley Cohen has defined as ‘moral panics’ regarding issues such as prostitution and juvenile delinquency, will not only highlight key issues that concerned the Victorian populace, but also emphasise the increasing influence and reach of newspapers in the decades before 1888.

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KW - Ripperology

KW - Whitechapel

KW - Prostitution

KW - Murder victims

KW - Homicide

KW - Serial murder

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M3 - Chapter

SN - 9781032203348

BT - The Routledge Handbook of Jack the Ripper Studies

A2 - Kilday, Anne-Marie

A2 - Nash, David

A2 - Watson, Katherine

PB - Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group

ER -

Jack the Ripper and Moral Panics

Abstract

UN SDGs

Keywords

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