In a way or the other, prostitution threatened the status of women in ancient societies. In some cultures it degraded or demoted them and in other cultures it had approval or was even considered a divine role.
Ancient Greece
A Greek women in the oldest profession was not highly regarded. They were traditionally associated with bad characters and as such they were treated like that. It must be noted that there were some women in certain religious capacity, such as temple prostitutes who had it worse. Some of these women were considered as goddesses and had their deserved respect. Nevertheless, the overwhelming majority of prostitutes in Greece was considered to be of low status.
Ancient Rome
In ancient Rome, women or girls, who engaged in sexual activities for money were also considered lowly and rejected by society. Were not allowed to marry or live a reputable life. Some of the girls became prostitutes mainly because they had no other means of making a living. However, with prostitution some women were even able to gain an upper hand and amass some riches. In some ways, these women could sometimes overcome their lower status, but this was not very often.
Mesopotamia
Sometimes the prostitution was associated with religions in Mesopotamia. Some women served in the temple as professionals and stakeholders known as Sacred Prostitutes. They had more respect than those women, and they possessed some rights too. However, other people who performed activities which did not related to temples, were considered to have a lower status. Some regarded their function as the faithful providing sin whereas others saw it as a standard part of life.
Unfortunately in Egypt prostitution was not as widespread as in the other civilizations. Nevertheless, some women continued working in the business becoming prostitutes. Nonetheless, they were rather oppressed and nevertheless had at least some liberty. Also prostitutes in the Philippi had their houses /Were not dominated by men. For instance prostitution in ancient Egypt was not as much frowned at as it was in Greece or Rome for example.
Role of Religion
There are strong indications that most of the ancient societies saw prostitution from the religious perspective. Sometimes, the(sacred) prostitution was a part of religious customs. Some of the female subjects participating in these practices could get a modicum of respect as well as power. But for those that did not belong to the religious system, they were considered to be outcasts most of the time.
Economic Factors
Some of the women turned into prostitutes due to irresistible economic forces. Women in ancient societies had somehow limited options regarding ways to make a living. Many of them had no other choice but to take to the streets as sex workers in order to survive.” This made their status lower because the society expected women to be in control of their lives but this they were not.
Social Expectations
In ancient societies, women were restricted by a number of codes of correct behavior. Some of these spheres were against prostitution. This made women who worked as prostitutes to suffer social rejection. Women were isolated from their families and other segments of society throughout many years. Prostitution or sex work was not part of the plan society had in mind for women and girls.
Legal Status
In some cultures, legal aspect on prostitution was punitive. Prostitutes during the Victorian Era especially women, had very limited rights under the law. For instance, in ancient Rome, they were considered to be an object. Women could not file for a marriage or own anything in their name. In other places where prostitutes enjoyed more)return privileges they were discriminated.
Conclusion
Consequently, the practice of prostitution had much influence on women status within the old ages society. To some of them, it meant losing social status while to others it gave them some proportional power. Although, majority of the women in prostitution did not enjoy respect and were stripped off most of their rights. Their lives revolved around the principals of their society and they are even portrayed as less than other women.
Evelyn Harper
In a way or the other, prostitution threatened the status of women in ancient societies. In some cultures it degraded or demoted them and in other cultures it had approval or was even considered a divine role.
Ancient Greece
A Greek women in the oldest profession was not highly regarded. They were traditionally associated with bad characters and as such they were treated like that. It must be noted that there were some women in certain religious capacity, such as temple prostitutes who had it worse. Some of these women were considered as goddesses and had their deserved respect. Nevertheless, the overwhelming majority of prostitutes in Greece was considered to be of low status.
Ancient Rome
In ancient Rome, women or girls, who engaged in sexual activities for money were also considered lowly and rejected by society. Were not allowed to marry or live a reputable life. Some of the girls became prostitutes mainly because they had no other means of making a living. However, with prostitution some women were even able to gain an upper hand and amass some riches. In some ways, these women could sometimes overcome their lower status, but this was not very often.
Mesopotamia
Sometimes the prostitution was associated with religions in Mesopotamia. Some women served in the temple as professionals and stakeholders known as Sacred Prostitutes. They had more respect than those women, and they possessed some rights too. However, other people who performed activities which did not related to temples, were considered to have a lower status. Some regarded their function as the faithful providing sin whereas others saw it as a standard part of life.
Ancient Egypt
Unfortunately in Egypt prostitution was not as widespread as in the other civilizations. Nevertheless, some women continued working in the business becoming prostitutes. Nonetheless, they were rather oppressed and nevertheless had at least some liberty. Also prostitutes in the Philippi had their houses /Were not dominated by men. For instance prostitution in ancient Egypt was not as much frowned at as it was in Greece or Rome for example.
Role of Religion
There are strong indications that most of the ancient societies saw prostitution from the religious perspective. Sometimes, the(sacred) prostitution was a part of religious customs. Some of the female subjects participating in these practices could get a modicum of respect as well as power. But for those that did not belong to the religious system, they were considered to be outcasts most of the time.
Economic Factors
Some of the women turned into prostitutes due to irresistible economic forces. Women in ancient societies had somehow limited options regarding ways to make a living. Many of them had no other choice but to take to the streets as sex workers in order to survive.” This made their status lower because the society expected women to be in control of their lives but this they were not.
Social Expectations
In ancient societies, women were restricted by a number of codes of correct behavior. Some of these spheres were against prostitution. This made women who worked as prostitutes to suffer social rejection. Women were isolated from their families and other segments of society throughout many years. Prostitution or sex work was not part of the plan society had in mind for women and girls.
Legal Status
In some cultures, legal aspect on prostitution was punitive. Prostitutes during the Victorian Era especially women, had very limited rights under the law. For instance, in ancient Rome, they were considered to be an object. Women could not file for a marriage or own anything in their name. In other places where prostitutes enjoyed more)return privileges they were discriminated.
Conclusion
Consequently, the practice of prostitution had much influence on women status within the old ages society. To some of them, it meant losing social status while to others it gave them some proportional power. Although, majority of the women in prostitution did not enjoy respect and were stripped off most of their rights. Their lives revolved around the principals of their society and they are even portrayed as less than other women.