The Question of Prostitution

Prostitution, the worlds oldest profession, was very important to European society. Both the secular and the religious authorizes (before Luther) supported it. Franco Farfan, a 16^th century Spanish cleric, declared that, “[t]he brothel in the city, then, is like the stable, or latrine for the house. Because just as the city keeps itself clean by providing a separate place where filth and dung are gathered, so neither less nor more … acts the brothel”(47). As long as brothels are organized and controlled by authorities, then prostitution can function within the city. It needs to function, because it cleanses the city of filth. However, the brothel were like any other business which was money oriented. The brothel bosses were only interested in profit from the prostitutes. Thus, if a girl turned to prostitution out of her poverty, it was close to impossible for her to get out of poverty. The money from clients went for rent and food, which was provided by the brothel. Many girls fell into debt.

Religious authorities were very involved in the institution of prostitution. In Spain, prostitutes were required to show up in Church on Sundays and they could not work on holidays. In Spain convents were created for those who wanted to leave the profession. Some of these convents even provided women with dowries so that they could have a chance at a husband. (This was hard because a prostitute lost her honor, a woman’s only asset). These convents were inspired often by Mary Magdalen, “[o]n her feast day, preachers went to the brothel to convert prostitutes.”(50). In the end, however, the escape from prostitution was extremely though. Poverty led women into this profession and poverty would not allow them out.  

Gender and Disorder in Early Modern Seville, Marry Elizabeth Perry, Princeton University Press. Princeton, 1990.