Category Archives: History of Sex Work

Contemporary Prostitution – A Companion Book

Here is a PDF copy of “Contemporary Companion”. Physical copies were Kickstarter exclusive and there is no e-book for sale, but subscribers here get to read the digital copy! Whilst this book heavily references “Contemporary Prostitution: Study of a Social Question”, originally published in 1884, which I recently translated and published, it is not necessaryContinue reading “Contemporary Prostitution – A Companion Book”

Applying the Label “Sex Worker” to People Selling Sex Throughout History

When it comes to researching historical prostitution, it is incredibly difficult to find accounts which come directly from people selling sex. The further back in history we go, the more true that is. Since the term “sex worker” is a recent invention, coined in the late 70s, and most works will use euphemisms or derogatory terms, there is often debate over whether it is appropriate to retroactively call people sex workers if they sold sex.

Contemporary Prostitution Translation – 1884, Léo Taxil.

Preserving sex worker history is a goal that is extremely important to me; all too often we are spoken over, our stories suppressed or lost to time. When I started reading “La Prostitution Contemporaine”, a book in which the author argues for the full decriminalization of prostitution, I became obsessed with it and decided it needed to be translated and preserved in English.

Translated Letters from Sex Workers, Mistresses, Brokers and Pimps.

Paid Subscriber Only: The following letters are assorted ones published in “La Prostitution Contemporaine” which I have translated. I will provide context for each, and many were written by people who were not fully literate and therefore won’t make perfect sense even after corrections and translation.

SW History: 1800s France

This article provides a breakdown of some of the ideas around prostitution in the early to mid 1800s in Paris, as well as tables of statistics translated into English giving insight into the level of literacy of prostitutes in Paris and the ages they were enlisted… as well as letters from real sex workers who were asking the police for the permission to become brothel managers!

Psychopathia Prostitualis

Every time I look into the history of understanding sexuality, I find sex workers there. Sex workers aren’t valued for the contributions we make or recognized as propping up these researchers work the way we do, to great personal detriment and without compensation, but we’re there.