Introduction
Prostitution refers to the act of engaging in sexual activities for material benefit, which may include financial rewards and favours (Bluestone 1). Individuals who engage in prostitution are widely referred to as commercial sex workers, although there are derogatory names given to both men and women who participate in this trade. Depending on the jurisdiction, prostitution may, or may not, be regulated (McGinn 351). In most jurisdictions, prostitution is permissible but unregulated. However, other countries regard it as a crime, and the involved parties are often prosecuted (Kempadoo, Sanghera, and Pattanaik 50). There are different types of prostitutes, who cater for the needs of diverse clientele. The categories include male prostitutes, female prostitutes, gay prostitutes, lesbian prostitutes, and transsexual prostitutes, among others. Research indicates that there are more than forty million prostitutes across the globe, and they collectively earn more than one hundred million dollars every year. In spite of the fact that prostitution individuals and governments consider prostitution as a business, the society condemns it as a form of violence towards women (Jody, 33). Furthermore, some researchers indicate that prostitution one of the primary drivers of modern day human trafficking, as most of the trafficked individuals end up working in brothels as prostitutes. In spite of the disadvantages and challenges associated with prostitution, the trade is an integral part of human culture, which is difficult to eliminate.
Prostitution is as old as Mankind
The “Ancient Near East” is a term that contemporary societies refer to as the Middle East. Civilizations historically occupied this region since the fourth millennium BC. In this region, “houses of heaven” along the Tigris-Euphrates river system were sites for sacred prostitution (Bluestone, 7). According to Herodotus, a historian who lived in the fifth century BC, women engaged in prostitution in the name of Aphrodite in ancient Babylon. Specifically, women sat in the temple of Aphrodite and waited to have intercourse with strange men at least once in their lifetimes (McGinn, 351). Men would come into the temple, identify a woman, and throw money in her lap. Subsequently, the woman had to follow the man irrespective of their social status or the amount of money they offered (Kempadoo, Sanghera, and Pattanaik, 55). Research indicates that it was sinful for women to avoid the tradition. In the ancient Hebrew societies, prostitution was an integral element of the society, which was widely illustrated in myths that spoke about prostitution among their gods. In fact, some myths indicate that four angels of sacred prostitution had intercourse with archangel Samael, and they were queens to several demons.
The ancient Greek Civilization is another old society that promoted prostitution. The ancient Greek society existed between the sixth and the eighth centuries and it belongs to a period known as the Antiquity (Bluestone, 10). During the Antiquity, men and women engaged in prostitution, and the governments regulated the trade but did not prohibit it. According to Bluestone, the practice was also prominent in the ancient Roman Civilization, as registered and unregistered prostitutes existed (McGinn, 351). The society did not disprove individuals who engaged in prostitution. Therefore, it is evident that from its inception in ancient societies, prostitution is still a thriving business in contemporary societies. Some jurisdictions have legalised and regulated, but other states explicitly forbid it. Regardless of the perspective that different nations and individuals hold about prostitution, it has continued to grow (Williamson, 5).
Prostitution in Ancient Art
The prostitute, especially the female prostitute, is an important subject in ancient visual arts. Artists use symbolism and allusion to represent the trade due to its conservative nature. Works that depict prostitutes employ some caution because there is a lack of awareness or understanding concerning such works, especially in the traditional societies. In fact, most of the nude artworks were widely created from posing prostitutes, as attested to by the titles of works such as “Luxuria,” “Courtesan,” “Odalisque,” and “Olympia,” among others (McGinn, 351). The artistic representations of the prostitute depict the society’s attitudes towards individuals who participated in the trade throughout history (Bluestone 14). Some artworks celebrate prostitutes while other detest and loath them. Most of the prostitutes featured in artworks are females.
The earliest depictions of prostitutes are on Greek potteries from the seventh and sixth century BC. This assumption derives from the fact that prostitutes had more rights in comparison to other women in the society (Kempadoo, Sanghera, and Pattanaik 56). While married women stayed “safely” at home, prostitutes had the freedom of being incorporated into works of art. In the nineteenth century, the theme of prostitution was widespread among artists. The lifestyle of a prostitute at the time was a source of interest for artists and the modernism of the period did not prevent artists from studying prostitutes (Jody, 30). During this period, prostitutes emerged as individuals who were young and full of life but heading towards destruction (Bluestone, 70).
In artistic representations, prostitutes often posed in a seductive and provocative manner. For example, in Greek ancient art, prostitutes appear lying on the side with one knee elevated while leaning on one elbow and staring into the eyes of the viewer. However, som art also humanized or dehumanized prostitutes. Sometimes, old bodies and dejected facial expressions showing sadness, such as in “Two Venetian Ladies on a Balcony.” by Carpaccio, are widely employed to demonstrate the hopelessness of the trade (McGinn 351). Nevertheless, some artists choose to dehumanize their prostitute subjects using animalistic portrayals. Dehumanization of prostitutes in art shows the disdain that the society has regarding prostitutes (Kempadoo, Sanghera, and Pattanaik 59).
Prostitution Today
Prostitution in the twenty-first century is a social, legal, political, cultural, and religious issue in all nations. All nations across the globe have issues with prostitution. Different nations and states have tried to legalise prostitution (Kempadoo, Sanghera, and Pattanaik 60). In Africa, prostitution is illegal in most of the countries, irrespective of the fact that the continent has some of the highest populations of prostitutes. In Africa, the main driver of the trade is poverty, but the health consequences are dire; the HIV/AIDS infections among African prostitutes are among the highest in the world (McGinn, 351). Prostitution in Asia is also illegal by law; however, the trade continues to thrive (Bluestone 111). Child prostitution is a grave issue regarding the trade in Asia. In Europe, prostitution is illegal in some countries while other nations legalise and regulate it. For example, in Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Greece, and Turkey, prostitution is legal. The European Union allows prostitution to exist but criminalizes activities associated with prostitution such as pimping and the operation of brothels. In North America, prostitution is illegal in most countries while in South America, the practice is legal in most nations. In Oceania, prostitution in all but one country is legal (McGinn, 351).
Religion is one of the reasons why most ancient civilizations prohibited prostitution. Most contemporary religions prohibit adherents from engaging in prostitution. For example, in Christianity, intercourse outside the marriage institution is sinful. Nevertheless, some of the individuals who solicit for services from prostitutes are Christians. On the other hand, Islam forbids people from offering and seeking sex in exchange for money (Kempadoo, Sanghera, and Pattanaik 230). However, prostitution is prevalent even in countries that practice Islam. For example, in Afghanistan, poor families sell young boys to wealthy men for purposes of entertainment and sex. According to Bluestone, religion does not determine whether people practice prostitution or not. In fact, religion may be one of the reasons why people have negative perspectives about prostitution but practice it secretly (Bluestone, 130).
In contemporary societies, artists depict various elements of prostitution in their artworks. For example, the film industry depicts prostitution in various forms. Just like in the past, such films may show prostitution in a positive or negative light. For example, in the Wolf of Wall Street, prostitutes are shown as rewards for hard work and a preserve for the rich (Kempadoo, Sanghera, and Pattanaik 231). On the other hand, prostitutes in Breaking Bad are widely depicted as the downtrodden, ugly, and disadvantaged members of society. In reality, contemporary prostitution takes both forms. There are high-end prostitutes who are widely known as escorts, and they charge relatively higher fees (McGinn, 351). On the other hand, some women engage in prostitution against their will and are often the victims of poverty or human trafficking. These women have little control over their roles as call girls and are often poorly remunerated (Bluestone, 230).
Conclusion
Prostitution is a trade that links back to the ancient civilizations and people often refers to it as the “oldest trade.” The significance of prostitution in human societies is evident in its ubiquitous presence in all forms of art, including film. From the representation of prostitution in these media, prostitution is an integral part of society; however, individuals do not accept it openly. In some traditional societies, people practiced prostitution without being judgment and persecuted, but its association with venereal diseases has informed the negative and disdainful feelings that people have towards prostitutes. Furthermore, religion provided a moral standpoint for the abolition of the practice. Nevertheless, in contemporary societies, prostitution continues unabated, irrespective of whether it is legal or illegal. From the evidence presented in this paper, it is evident that prostitution is an integral part of the human society, and individuals and governments cannot eliminate it.
Works Cited
Bluestone, Daniel. "Charlottesville's Landscape of Prostitution, 1880–1950."Buildings & Landscapes: Journal of the Vernacular Architecture Forum. Vol. 22. No. 2.
Kempadoo, Kamala, Jyoti Sanghera, and Bandana Pattanaik. Trafficking and prostitution reconsidered: New perspectives on migration, sex work, and human rights. New York: Routledge Press, 2015.
McGinn, Thomas. Meretrix: Female Prostitution in Ancient Rome. n.d. Web. May 8, 2016.
Jody, Raphael. Listening to Olivia: Violence, poverty, and prostitution. New York: Northeastern University Press, 2015.
Williamson, Celia. Entrance, Maintenance, and Exit: The Socio-Economic Influences and Cumulative Burdens of Female Street Prostitution. Indiana: Indiana University Press, 2000. Print.
