Prostitution in the Old West

This topic is my passion.  I could talk to you indefinitely about this subject. I don't deny the fact that I allow myself to glamorize it a bit.  I have a peculiar fondness for the Old West.  The cowboys.  The Native Americans.  The Goldrush.  But what I really care about are the painted ladies.

Typical small town.

Just like with sex workers today there were quite a diverse group that made up these soiled doves.  While some women sold their services for $.25 others charged upwards of $5,000.  While some worked out of one room slums in poor conditions, others lived in grand homes or brothels with beautiful clothes and plenty of good food and drink.

A working girl.

It's not easy making a living.  Violence was common among the ladies of the night.   Although they made up the majority of the population of women and helped both morale and commerce in the cities, they were second class citizens.  The men viewed them as material objects or immoral and unchaste.  Women who were not paid for services resented and judged them harshly.  It was not surprising for a prostitute to be physically or sexually violated from minor acts of aggression to homicide.

Violence is never the answer.

Not surprising, depression, substance abuse and suicide were prevalent among the women.  Not only were they often taken advantage of, with no real means of refutation, they were also shamed.    The women, not the men who purchased their services were constantly fined.  Newspapers would regularly run the names and personal information of women caught peddling their goods.  When a lady of the evening would die, be killed or commit suicide, they were not allowed to be buried within the confines of the cemetery fences, they were not allowed Christian burials.

Beautiful and heartbreaking.

I love and respect these women.  I am fascinated by their strength, resilience and sheer importance.   Without them the West would not have been the same.

xoxxx-

Julia is a sex enthusiast (talking about it, studying it, taking part in it!) with a B.A. in 

Cultural Anthropology focusing on sex work and sexual taboos. 

She is currently a Master's student in Marriage and Family Therapy 

centering on sex and relationships.

She is a strong advocate for sexual freedom and equality.