"Park women, properly so called, are those degraded creatures, utterly lost to all sense of shame, who wander about the paths most frequented after nightfall in the Parks, and consent to any species of humiliation for the sake of acquiring a few shillings"

In this quote, Henry Mayhew is describing a particular group of women who he considers as "Park ladies." He describes them as degraded and lacking any sense of embarassment. These ladies are understood to roam around the parks in the evening and want to sustain any kind of embarrassment in exchange for a little quantity of cash. Mayhew's language suggests that he views these women as immoral and desperate, ready to compromise their self-respect for monetary gain. This quote highlights the societal preconception and discrimination dealt with by females who participate in sex work or other types of survival sex. Mayhew's words likewise reveal a lack of empathy and understanding towards the battles and situations that may lead these ladies to engage in such activities.