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Prostitution in Europe

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Prostitution in Europe
Prostitution in Europe

The world’s largest trade, prostitution, has always found ways to overcome the

legal attempts to suppress it. Prostitution has become one of the most common trades

throughout the world. Many poor countries have turned to prostitution as an outlet

from their economic difficulties. It is the easiest from of labor for those who do not have

a proper education or the economic background to join the legal labor force. Many men

and women have found this line of work to be extremely rewarding in monetary aspects.

Therefore the globalisation and popularity of prostitution is not seen as a huge surprise.

Prostitution has been on the streets and behind doors since the sixteenth century.

It was present during the medieval period through the Victorian period and now to the

present time. In the past, prostitution was seen as morally wrong and a great “social

evil”. During the medieval time in Europe and England, prostitutes were fully exploited

by society. In medieval Europe and England, prostitutes were known to be single women

who could not marry. There were not many opportunities for single women in the labor

force during this time. If women were unable to marry, they turned to prostitution as an

alternative out of economic necessity. The medieval society felt the need to stigmatize

and exploit the single women for prostitution. The Victorians saw prostitution as a

“social evil” and refused to accept it in their society. Prostitution was tolerated in a

sense, but seen as big nuisance in the streets. Society was disturbed by it, but did nothing

to change the problem. Children were forced into prostitution by their parents or

guardians. Many women and children were given off to perform sexual activities in

exchange for money. The Victorians tolerated prostitution, but never accepted it as part

of their society. By the mid-nineteenth century, prostitution became more open and

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