Medieval Sex Work vs Today

Written by Molly Cowan

I really enjoyed researching medieval sex work and making my presentation. The act of hiring a prostitute is “plucking a rose,” which does not surprise me. Before reading The Romance of the Rose, I knew that vaginas were compared to flowers because they are delicate and get damaged as more people touch them. I remember hearing about the flower analogy on the show Jane the Virgin, and I remember thinking how silly it was for the grandmother to put the pressure on Jane to stay pure. It is surprising how not much has changed when it comes to religious views on virginity. Because of our societal teachings, we associated the rosebush in The Romance of the Rose with a vagina. I do agree that vaginas are beautiful flowers, but they are also very strong and do amazing things. It is not so delicate if it can push out an eight pound human.

Sex work is still very prevalent today with easier access to porn through the internet. While the middle ages had brothels, today there are all sorts of ways to engage in sex. Although it is still dangerous for all genders, we as a society are much more knowledgable about safe sex practices and consent. Brothels were used to make money back then, and today there are many porn companies and self-made individuals that make tons of profit by selling sex. It is such a big industry that employs many people all over the world. Although many people believe that sex work is bad, or a sin, it is way more accepted today.

We have come a long way since the middle ages, but there is still room for growth. For example, there is still a stigma around transgender or non-binary individuals when it comes to sex work or even bathrooms. Furthermore, it is harmful that religions still teach outdated practices such as saving oneself for marriage and modesty. I think we should do whatever we want as long as it does not cause harm to others!