The First Profession in the World? The History of Prostitution!
The saying “Prostitution is the oldest profession in the world” is not just an aphorism. Although there’s some truth to that, it is a bit of a misconception. This phrase was coined in 1898 by Victorian writer Rudyard Kipling.
In truth, there is no evidence of sex work amongst primitive societies, and it didn’t exist in many places in the world, especially those who historically didn’t hold concepts of sexual shame and infidelity. While prostitution has been around for quite some time, it may not be as old as many believe it to be. Sex work comes with a whole lot of controversy, debate, and misinformation. But the truth is it’s been a valid form of work for quite some time, if not one of the first jobs that humans created. Prostitution has allowed people to fulfill vital human needs like connection, intimacy, and pleasure, as well as created jobs and forms of income for sex workers.
It’s an honest job. One that has a whole lot of history and background. Ready to amp up your knowledge of sex work and prostitution, and its rich history? Well, you came to the right place.
More Than Sex
A common misconception is that prostitution is all about sex work, but there’s so much more to it than that. Sure, prostitutes may offer a wide array of sexual activities for their clients to choose from, but they also help to fill a void in many people’s lives, whether that be sexual, emotional, companionship, or all of the above.
Some clients may never want to engage in sex when they go to a prostitute. They may just want someone to cuddle with, talk to, or find some temporary companionship with. Sex workers also offer people a chance to explore parts of their sexuality or kinks they may not want to with a partner. Another service sex workers can offer is another way for people with disabilities to have sex if they can’t or don’t want to with a partner.
Prostitution has been a vital part of human history and sexual evolution. But how and where did it get started?
When and Where Did Prostitution Start?
Let’s start with the basics – what exactly is prostitution? According to Brittanica, prostitution is “When someone engages in an indiscriminate sexual act with someone who isn’t a spouse, friend, or partner in exchange for immediate payment or exchange in valuables.” Historically most prostitutes have been cis-women while their clients have been cis-men, but any gender can be a prostitute or a client.
One of the first historical mentions of prostitution dates back to 3000 B.C. in Uruk, which is modern Iraq. The bible mentions the term “whore of Babylon” when the text vilifies sexual acts in the Roman Empire like sodomy and sex outside of marriage.