Prostitution never fails to create riveting conversation. The most ancient documented human career, the occupation of selling one’s body has seen increases and decreases with the evolution of society. Following unification, accompanying a rapid rise in industrialism, imperial Germany has a drastic national increase in prostitution. This commonly viewed decay in morality cause much outrage from German citizens as they sought to tear prostitution from the conditions that so promoted it.
In 1850 London and Paris were the only cities in Europe with a population exceeding half a million. Both of these cities had prostitution on a large scale. With the growth of German cities like Hamburg and Berlin, it is no surprise that they too had a boom in prostitution. In our article on prostitution a stat is given that there no less than 330,000 prostitutes in Germany at the time of the first world war. How did this occur.
Middle class anxiety throughout the 19th century, while composed of multiple factors, had roots in changes among sexual attitudes. A more casual attitude towards sex was appalling to the vastly conservative generation. By the end of the century revolutionary views on sexuality were being postulated by the incredibly influential German doctor Sigmund Freud. His bold theories mark a paradigm shift in human reflection upon sex.
Industrialization undoubtedly led to an increase in prostitution. A mass movement to the cities occurred in the late 19th century. With an abundance of labor, and an increasing standard of living, a sizable supply and demand was created for this market to function. This crude capitalism, vied by the Social Democratic Party as the epitome of what needed to be overthrown by revolution, was linked with Bourgeois values and seems likely to have added strength parties in opposition to the liberals.
The authorities were not fond having their cities filled with highly active brothels. On the heels of unification, legislation was passed, under Clause 361/6 that allowed police to take captive and medically inspect anyone accused of being a prostitute. Legislation like this was common reflection widespread distaste for this profession. Unfortunately for the legislators they police authorities simply did not have the practical manpower or organization to keep a strict control on this immorality.
Changing attitudes towards sex, an intense period of urbanization, and a burgeoning capitalist market all helped to foster a prostitution in Imperial Germany. Interesting is the response of the government and legislators as almost all forces united against this change in society. The rise of the moral pressure groups is also of note. I couldn’t help thinking of right winged groups in Washington pressing for stronger moral legislation. The story of this period of prostitution is a lesson to be learned in human nature. The negative backlash from the masses is an indicator to positively evolving moral compass ingrained in society, a society in which prostitution is now undeniably less acceptable than a century ago.
Is it really less socially acceptable in Germany? It's less widespread probably but there are actually government sanctioned brothels in some German cities now with health inspections. We're certainly less accepting in the U.S. but I'm not sure about Germany. They do have some legalization but cultural attitudes on prostitution in Europe is honestly not something I follow too closely but occasionally you do come accross something about it.
ReplyDeleteI really like the connection you made with Freud and the seeming break-through of new attitudes towards sex and sexuality. Modernity forced a rethinking of so much that people had previously taken for granted or accepted because of their lack of choice or ability to change. The changes wrought by industrialization and urbanization really did force a reconception of morals and values in society. I'm not sure that I would argue that morality is 'better' or has 'improved' but simply that modern moral codes are governed by different rules. I think it is interesting how different ideas about nudity and sexuality are between Europe and America (or even the South and California). Which approach is better or more 'moral' is hard to say but certainly linked to accepted moral and social standards of the different groups.
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