Prostitution

[Diana]

Oh snap, the P word! Prostitution, whores, harlots, etc. They cross over through every single genre! If they don't exist, it can be just as important as when they do exist.


For this exercise you're going to detail out how prostitution works and is viewed in your world.

Here are some things to think about!

• Is prostitution legal?
• Is there an institution for whoring or is freelance?
• Are there special places you go to pick up hookers?
• Is there a class system? (such as cheap skanks, or expensive noble ladies?)
• What is local society's opinion on prostitution?
• What is the world's general opinion on prostitution?
• Is it dominated by one sex or the other? Or equally balanced for both sexes?
• What are the ways a person winds up being a prostitute?
• What are the typical hazards for prostitutes?
• Can you recognize them on sight because of dress or other clues?

And don't forget to add in anything YOU can think of too!

 

[Minibit]

• Is prostitution legal?
  Yes, and only frowned upon in some circles
• Is there an institution for whoring or is freelance?
  Freelance, though you have to be registered as one with an official registrar. Both brothels and individual businesses are common, though individuals tend to be higher quality.
• Are there special places you go to pick up hookers?
  Any business district
• Is there a class system? (such as cheap skanks, or expensive noble ladies?)
  There are differences in, erm, quality, between practitioners, though it usually depends on their style, budget, how long they've been doing it, etcetera, how much they can afford to charge.
• What is local society's opinion on prostitution?
  Most people view it as just another business using the human body, no different from using your muscles to do a heavy-lifting job, or from being a dancer or other physical performer. There are circles such as the Church of the Pure (who believe that everything on earth should be treated with dignity and regard; untouched, kept clean, unused, etc. They wouldn't want you passing houseplants around, either.)
• What is the world's general opinion on prostitution?
  Don't like it; don't do it. There are many who believe it should be restricted to certain areas, and that practicing buildings should be clearly marked, and that children should be kept away from its influence, but there's enough of a majority who think it's a benign business that it is still legal and probably will be for a long time.
• Is it dominated by one sex or the other? Or equally balanced for both sexes?
  Male prostitution is not unheard of, but the industry is mostly dominated by women. There were many, many years of social buildup that men work with their hands, and women work with body language/their sexuality
• What are the ways a person winds up being a prostitute?
  It still has a bit of a reputation as a gambit to get out of poverty, but more and more prostitutes are starting simply because it's a way to make money at something they like/are good at.
• What are the typical hazards for prostitutes?
  There are regulations which are regularly inspected by the registrar, but since actual business transactions are handled in private, you always run the risk of your client disregarding the rules. However since the business is regulated, you wouldn't get away with beating/forcing/not paying, etc for very long. Many, more high-end prostitutes also have security in their buildings, and only allow business to be done on premesis where said security can respond to trouble.
• Can you recognize them on sight because of dress or other clues?
  At work, prostitutes tend to wear more seductive clothes (Their equivalent of a salesman's handshake; it draws you in), but during off-hours, you probably couldn't guess unless they wanted you to.

 

[Lady Sabine]

• Is prostitution legal?

Yes, though whores are not permitted to work out of private residences on the big island, nor may they work without having an official building to serve as their place of business on any isle.

• Is there an institution for whoring or is freelance?

All places of business must be registered by law and a directory of these has been made, but other than that there are no wide-ranging institutions.

• Are there special places you go to pick up hookers?

Trade is heavily regulated on the islands and only certain districts are permitted to sell sex, though there are always ways around this. One of the most common is overpriced inns where the staff is expected to sleep with the customers, though the price is only technically for the room.

• Is there a class system? (such as cheap skanks, or expensive noble ladies?)

Very few free people work as prostitutes. Slaves make up the vast majority, though the handful of freedmen see themselves as quite superior.

• What is local society's opinion on prostitution?

The natives hate it, namely because it is their women who are getting used, though white and mulatto women go for more. On the other hand, the colonists view it as quite a lovely and profitable practice, as prostitution is illegal in the home country. Sex tourism brings in the money that everyone wants, and colonists aren't known for being moral people.

• What is the world's general opinion on prostitution?

In most of the civilized world, prostitution has been made illegal. This hasn't stopped much of it, but by making it against the law as well as against the morals of high society, it has been neatly swept under the rug. If the noble ladies don't see it happen, it doesn't exist.

• Is it dominated by one sex or the other? Or equally balanced for both sexes?

The vast majority of prostitutes are women and their clients are predominantly male, though there are exceptions on either side and the population is high enough that a few specialized places deal exclusively with less traditional fare.

• What are the ways a person winds up being a prostitute?

Typically, an attractive young slave girl will be bought in early puberty by the owner of a brothel and be required to do chores & menial labor for some time as she is trained before she becomes a fully fledged prostitute.

• What are the typical hazards for prostitutes?

With little effective medical treatment, a variety of VDs are rampant in the population, to the point where many high-end establishments require all men to get seen by an in-house doctor before they may sleep with any of the girls. In addition, pregnancy is usually the end of a woman's career, and will result in her being sold as quickly as possible. Violence and abuse do happen, but by and large dominant partners with fierce tastes tend to buy their own slaves so those owned by a brothel are safe from such workplace dangers. On the other hand, certain fetishes and orientations violate various laws and slave codes, putting both the girls and the house at the mercy of clients never having second thoughts and reporting the various technically illegal acts they requested to have performed.

• Can you recognize them on sight because of dress or other clues?

There are relatively few attractive young slaves employed in entirely innocent positions, due in no small part to the large sex tourism industry resulting in a large number of brothels per capita. On the other hand, there is no required marking for slaves, though one particular alliance of top-tier "Manses" gives small silver bells to be put on the collars of slaves owned by the prestigious brothels, marking them as a tier above the rest. It is forbidden in any other situation to have a small silver bell on a slave's collar, so it is the only foolproof way to know- though this only applies to the best of the best, and they rarely are permitted to leave their houses.

 

[CosmicWeinerDog]

• Is prostitution legal?
  Not only is it legal, it's required for a minimum service term of four years before any party member can hold a political role in public office. Occasionally, with more frequency as the economy improves, members extend their service period for longer periods with intention to break into the industry's private sector.
• Is there an institution for whoring or is freelance?

Like many public service roles, a federal corps of servicemen/servicewomen is made available for party members on a volunteer basis. While this corp covers a large majority of openings to fit demand, it's not uncommon for independent contracting firms to sprout up in the business. Often these firms dabble in roles the public sector can't including contracts out of country, contracts in undeveloped areas where federal service men and women lack the infrastructure to provide for safe service, and contracts with specialized clients who's needs extend beyond what the public sector can provide.

• Are there special places you go to pick up hookers?

Any service member can be solicited following a credit check in federally appointed meeting zones. Zones are prominantly displayed on topographical maps by a red light grid pattern. Independent contracting firms can also be solicited, however a fee must be paid by the firm in order to offer services from a federally appointed meeting zone. Usually these services are negotiated between the client and the firm and are taxed appropriately.

• Is there a class system? (such as cheap skanks, or expensive noble ladies?)

For the most part private contracting firms are considered to be more "Classy" as their infrastructure allows a larger range of services provided to the client base. That said, a great deal of respect is granted to members of the corps who offer up the better part of a half decade in service to their country.

• What is local society's opinion on prostitution?

See above answer.

• What is the world's general opinion on prostitution?
  Typically, outside of the local region, these services are viewed with a large variety of opinions. Several opposing countries in the region have made statements claiming the condoning of such behavior to be revolting on a grand scale. On occasion, these countries place trade embargos against the soliciting of cross state lines of service members. Ironically enough, when this happens it leads to openings for private firms to cover a much larger demand basis than what would have normally been available. Ban or no, the reputation of the country's service member's proficiency in craft exceeds lines of state and moral stipulation. This reputation leads to a large international demand in client base. When that demand is made illegal, the price for such services increase exponentially based on risk. It's situations like this where private firms prosper.
• Is it dominated by one sex or the other? Or equally balanced for both sexes?
  While not completely even, the percentage listing as of 2072 shows a 42% - 58% split between women and men. While the prospect of intersex service members has been discussed by the country's congressional board, so far they have been restricted for the time being to independent contracting firms. A large amount of public discussion has sprouted on this topic, declaring the act "A federal means to increase demand on an already diminished supply base." The accusation claims that the raise in demand brings forward a higher claim in revenue from the service, leading to a larger tax bracket from private firms that manage such a route.
• What are the ways a person winds up being a prostitute?
  Generally, most service members join early on in life. Opting for a four to six year contract to the corp as a stepping stone into public office. Occasionally the lifestyle strikes their fancy however and the service member extends their contract. 20 years of active service time grants the service member a retirement pension.
• What are the typical hazards for prostitutes?
  Like any physical occupation, joint, muscle and ligament injuries can occur due to abrupt strain on the effected region. Service based medical clinics are available to all to maintain unit readiness and overall service member health across all boards.

• Can you recognize them on sight because of dress or other clues?
  Federal service members, as mentioned before can be picked out in federally appointed meeting zones and are often seen wearing an appointed service uniform. Crests are placed on the uniform depicting the service person's appointed time in grade. Independent contracting firms are sometimes (but not always) found in these areas as well but generally do not abide by the same dress code lines. Often, within the country, these contractors dawn a uniform issued by their firm. However, in operations outside state lines, these contractors often take on a more subtle form of dress in order to blend in with the local populace.

 

[guygombaa]

• Is prostitution legal?

Ah yes, one of the worlds oldest professions! the lesser government sections are practically running brothels themselves. So yes, yes it is.

• Is there an institution for whoring or is freelance?

One can be a member of the guild, or one can freelance. Either is acceptable.

• Are there special places you go to pick up hookers?

You can go to a guild, or simply contact one directly.

• Is there a class system? (such as cheap skanks, or expensive noble ladies?)

Yes. Members of the guild are usually nobles, and some freelancers and non-guild brothels are highly respected.

• What is local society's opinion on prostitution?

Its basically the same as it was on Earth during the Renaissance. Its accepted as an honest profession for those with no other skills, although it is also accepted at children should be kept innocent.

• What is the world's general opinion on prostitution?

Its an acceptable profession.

• Is it dominated by one sex or the other? Or equally balanced for both sexes?

It is mostly women who work in prostitution, although men can be found.

• What are the ways a person winds up being a prostitute?

Usually, they have no other skills, or are forced into it somehow. The guild usually takes in orphaned teens and gives them the upbringing of a noble, but this orphans are always doomed to prostitution.

• What are the typical hazards for prostitutes?

Guild members are usually safe from any hazards, although very rarely a member will get beaten or abused in a private session, or contract disease. Some people even try to kidnap guild members for their own private affairs. Freelancers are highly susceptible to beatings, abuse, disease, and even death.

• Can you recognize them on sight because of dress or other clues?

All guild members were the crest on their clothes at all times, and their old fashioned dresses. Freelancers however, are harder to detect.