Prostitution: Encyclopedia II - Prostitution - Overview and definitions

Prostitution - Overview and definitions

While prostitutes and their clients represent all sexes and all sexual orientations, the majority of clients are male. Prostitution is rejected by most modern religions as being improper or sinful, and prostitutes are considered to be shameful or individuals of low standing in most societies; in some cultures, their customers are typically also looked down upon but are usually tolerated to a greater degree than the prostitute.

The English word whore, referring to (female) prostitutes, is taken from the Old English word hōra (from the Indo-European root kā meaning "to like, desire") but usage of that word is widely considered pejorative and prostitute is a less value-laden term. It could also come from the Islamic term houri, the name for an attentive female virgin in the afterlife, but this derivation is unlikely given the presence of cognates of the Old English word in other Germanic languages. On the other hand, in Germany most prostitutes' organizations deliberately use the word Hure (whore) since they feel that prostitute is an unnecessary euphemism for something not in need of euphemisms. The term sex worker is becoming the label of choice in Australia. Prostitutes may also be called hookers. It was rumoured to be first used during the American Civil War to describe the women who followed the Union army of General Hooker; however, the term appeared in print as early as 1845, well before Hooker came into the public light. See also: call girl, courtesan, escort.

Male prostitutes offering their services to male customers are called "gigolos", "hustlers", "rent boys", "trade", "man ho", "boy toys" or "bitches." Male prostitutes offering services to female customers are known as "escorts", "giglis", or "gigolos." Though there is a stereotype that such male prostitutes are rare, a comprehensive study by Nither Tinnakul of Chulalongkorn University at Bangkok found the number in Thailand alone to be at least 30,000, versus an estimated 100,000 female prostitutes.

Organizers of prostitution are typically known as pimps (usually male, and most often with regard to street prostitution), madams (female, general today but traditionally related to brothel prostitution), and mama-sans (if female and East Asian.)

The term prostitution is sometimes used in the more general meaning of having sex in order to achieve a certain goal different from procreation or pleasure. This includes forms of religious prostitution in which sex is practiced in compliance with religious precepts. Prostitution in this broader sense is also used in spying or graft. Ancient China is replete with well-known instances of using sex to undermine an enemy. (See Xi Shi, Diao Chan)

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Overview and definitions", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki