Criminal
04-16-2002, 11:43 PM
Defined as the the exchange of money or valuable material for sexual activity, prostitution has existed since times before recorded history. Among primates it has been observed that females will often present themselves to males for sex to purvey food or for protection. It seems likely that the exchange of food for coitus began in the transitional period between man and ape and with the subsequent developement of more elaborate rules of social behavior, the sexual restrictions of marriage and the concept of parenthood, prostitution was eventually defined in some form and set apart as an entity to be accepted or condemned.
Prostitution has not, been culturally universal. In sexually permissive societies, such as certain south Pacific Island groups, it has been absent because it is unnecessary. In others it has been repressed. Complete suppression seems difficult in urban centers where anonymity is easily acheived.
Historically Prostitution has been the resort of disadvantaged femails, slaves, captives, divorcees, widows, outcasts and the unmarriagable. In most cases these were females without husbands.
Many societies encouraged prostitution as a condition of economics or relition. In some societies girls earned their doweries through prostitution. This was common in some New World societies, as well as in Lydia, Cyprus and other Mediterranean societies.
Religions have incorporated prostitution in the rites of priestesses. This was common in certain classes of society, such as the Myletta rite of ancient Babylon, where females would wait at the temple of the godess Ishtar and accept coitus for pay from clients. Similar rites occured among Canaanites as well as India and West Africa.
As societies developed, in Greece, Rome and Isreal prostitutes were restricted to certain districts. It should also be noted that as the Roman legions moved so did the prostitutes. In garrison towns, brothels were built to service the Roman soldiers. In addition to accepting coitus from soldiers, prostitutes also worked as waitresses, cooks, laundresses and nurses. Often prostitutes married soldiers and started families.
Similar developements occured throughout the civilized world. In China, for example The Tang dynasty found prostitutes required to operate in certain areas. Later during the Sung dynasty in 960 Cafes employing prostitutes proliferated.
As societys developed there also emerged a heirarchy of prostitutes. In many societies, such as ancient Greece, or in the Byzentine Empire or in Japan, there emerged a class or Cortisans who were accorded conciderable respect. It sould be remembered that Theodora, the wife of the great Byzentine Emporer Justinian was originally a cortisan.
In modern western societies, prostitution continued to be a refuge for disenfranchised or inpoverished women. During the settlement of the american frontier, prostitutes found a hungry market for their services. As everywhere else a hierarchy emerged with the high class ladies working in "Gentlemen's clubs" where they commanded a high price. With a very high ratio of men to women its easy to see why this existed.
As everywhere else, the women lured into this way of life did so for a number of reasons. Many of them were widows. In the rugged frontier prostitution was one of the few occupations available to them.
Prostitution has not, been culturally universal. In sexually permissive societies, such as certain south Pacific Island groups, it has been absent because it is unnecessary. In others it has been repressed. Complete suppression seems difficult in urban centers where anonymity is easily acheived.
Historically Prostitution has been the resort of disadvantaged femails, slaves, captives, divorcees, widows, outcasts and the unmarriagable. In most cases these were females without husbands.
Many societies encouraged prostitution as a condition of economics or relition. In some societies girls earned their doweries through prostitution. This was common in some New World societies, as well as in Lydia, Cyprus and other Mediterranean societies.
Religions have incorporated prostitution in the rites of priestesses. This was common in certain classes of society, such as the Myletta rite of ancient Babylon, where females would wait at the temple of the godess Ishtar and accept coitus for pay from clients. Similar rites occured among Canaanites as well as India and West Africa.
As societies developed, in Greece, Rome and Isreal prostitutes were restricted to certain districts. It should also be noted that as the Roman legions moved so did the prostitutes. In garrison towns, brothels were built to service the Roman soldiers. In addition to accepting coitus from soldiers, prostitutes also worked as waitresses, cooks, laundresses and nurses. Often prostitutes married soldiers and started families.
Similar developements occured throughout the civilized world. In China, for example The Tang dynasty found prostitutes required to operate in certain areas. Later during the Sung dynasty in 960 Cafes employing prostitutes proliferated.
As societys developed there also emerged a heirarchy of prostitutes. In many societies, such as ancient Greece, or in the Byzentine Empire or in Japan, there emerged a class or Cortisans who were accorded conciderable respect. It sould be remembered that Theodora, the wife of the great Byzentine Emporer Justinian was originally a cortisan.
In modern western societies, prostitution continued to be a refuge for disenfranchised or inpoverished women. During the settlement of the american frontier, prostitutes found a hungry market for their services. As everywhere else a hierarchy emerged with the high class ladies working in "Gentlemen's clubs" where they commanded a high price. With a very high ratio of men to women its easy to see why this existed.
As everywhere else, the women lured into this way of life did so for a number of reasons. Many of them were widows. In the rugged frontier prostitution was one of the few occupations available to them.