The Molly Culture

The ‘Molly Culture’ was the early form of the homosexual culture during the Early Modern period. The name was devised from the houses, Molly houses, in which gay men would meet and enjoy themselves, either be recreating feminine experiences, such as giving birth, or through sexual desires. During the period however, acting like women and cross dressing did not pose to be a punishable criminal offense, more so it provided tell-tale signs of potential sodomy. This essay will evaluate the principle features of the culture, and attempt to explain the decline of these features through ongoing processes of the time.

Molly houses were typical features of the ‘Molly Culture’ which was strongly associated with effeminacy. Often a public house, gay men would gather on the weekends to attend to these houses. It must be noted that this activity was purely seen as a recreational activity. Homosexuality during this period was not a banner people could place themselves under, and it could be argued that this helped the decline of the culture because there was no united front or organisation in which homosexuals could form under.

The greatest example of this, and a historical view of the cultures decline, would be the account of Margaret (Mother) Clap. Owner of a Molly house, an agent of the Reformation of Manners infiltrated the house and made notes on the goings on over a period of months. After a raid in 1726, several of those present were arrested, some were executed and others subjected to other forms of public punishment . Clap subsequently died soon after the raid, possibly through her injuries sustained in the pillories. Such public displays of punishments, as well as execution, would certainly cause fear to spread in the molly community, thus declining their numbers. More so, Clap’s establishment was certified to not being a brothel, thus no sex occurred there. This was testified by the informant Samuel Stevens . It’s clear that emphasis is being made on the...