Adult work in the 19th century: get to know the sex workers called 'night butterflies'

Adult work or slavery? A look inside 19th-century brothels

In 19th-century Europe and Tsarist Russia, authorities recognized a new opportunity for the exploitation of women and effectively legalized the world's "oldest craft," allowing the number of "night butterflies" performing adult jobs to increase.

In France, as a result of Napoleon's decrees, registration and regular medical checks of prostitutes were introduced in 1804. Brothels then spread rapidly in Paris.

In contrast, similar regulations were introduced in Russia only in 1843, and thousands of women received so-called "yellow tickets".

This document affected women who practiced the so-called most ancient craft and was given it from the age of 16 instead of a passport.

The goal was to strictly control sex workers, and women had to follow very strict rules, including permanent residence and personal hygiene.

Rules for erotic adult work

The night butterflies always had to follow the rules set for them. Since many of them were illiterate, the ministerial decree was read aloud to them or its meaning was explained.

Some of them could not read or write at all.

This was not surprising, as most prostitutes did not come from the upper social classes – only 0.9% were noble.

Women who performed erotic adult jobs were typically from the lower strata of society, and often chose prostitution out of necessity, as they had no other option: they were daughters of poor families, orphans, abandoned women, country girls, or adventurous ladies. And yes, the latter was not uncommon either!

Medical examinations were essential for sex workers

The authorities viewed the threat of epidemics with great fear. In 19th-century Moscow, for example, there were two thousand prostitutes, while in St. Petersburg there were even more, so infectious diseases could spread quickly.

Separate appointments were provided for the “night butterflies” in hospitals to avoid contact with other patients.

The construction of special clinics specializing exclusively in the healthcare of female sex workers has also slowly begun.

If the girls lived with a “madame,” they didn’t have to leave the house for the examinations: the doctors themselves went to these homes. There, they recorded the health status of each woman on the spot.

If it turned out that someone was suffering from an infectious disease, they were obliged to go to the hospital, and this was strictly required by the decree.

In some hospitals, these women received free medical care, but only if they voluntarily went for a medical examination.

If infections were discovered during raids (as such raids were often held, as many people were doing sex work illegally), doctors charged a fee for the treatments.

However, women who became pregnant while performing adultwork were also provided with free care.

A huge emphasis was placed on the hygiene of women doing adult jobs

"The genitals should be washed with cold water as often as possible," the decree stated.

Further details were also outlined, such as the fact that ideally, hygiene procedures had to be carried out after each guest. It was not possible to go from one guest to another without washing and changing clothes.

During menstruation, women were not allowed to receive guests, and it was mandatory to use the bathhouse twice a week.

Interestingly, the decree only allowed the use of cosmetics and perfumes to "the minimum extent possible."

Dependence on "keepers" and restriction of movement

Many girls had a “keeper” who supported and took care of them, paid their rent, bought them clothes, and provided them with food and security. It may be similar to the sugarbaby relationship that is common today, but back then, the relationship between a prostitute and a supporter was completely different.

19th-century regulations effectively enslaved girls, as they were expected to obey their owners unconditionally.

Although there was a rule regarding cleanliness, many who were illiterate were unaware of the requirements unless their custodian read them out loud.

If a prostitute left their residence, regardless of whether they worked in a brothel or independently performed adultworks, they were always required to carry a medical certificate stating their health status.

This was to ensure that she could prove her sexual health in any case. If she wanted to move, she had to notify the police and have her new address listed on her documents, while the old one was deleted.

The authorities constantly monitored women in prostitution to avoid the spread of epidemics if they traveled to another city due to illness.

It is worth noting that Venice was already much more advanced in this field in the 16th century. There, “prostitutes” were registered separately, and if a woman moved, her documents had to include the new details.

Guests could ask for a health certificate at any time, and the women were required to present it.

If they hadn't, they could have been arrested.

How did marriage and sex work fit together?

These rules significantly influenced not only the girls' adult work but also their private lives.

One of the most shocking regulations was that if a prostitute wanted to get married, her future husband had to submit a written permission slip to the police, certifying that he was aware of his wife's past and approved of it.

This rule was particularly burdensome for those who wanted to start a new life, as they were forced to inform their husbands about their past and risked being abandoned due to their sex jobs.

In addition, obtaining a police permit was a bureaucratic process that caused them additional difficulties.

They were punished for not following the rules regarding adultwork

Violation of the rules could result in a fine, or even imprisonment. The length of time spent in the workhouse was determined on an individual basis, taking into account the severity of the offense and medical opinion.

In some European cities, prostitutes could be punished with whipping for serious offenses. This punishment was extremely cruel and humiliating and often caused permanent physical damage.

Among the harshest punishments was forced labor, which was carried out mainly in prisons or workhouses. The duration of forced labor varied depending on the severity of the offense, but could even last for years.

In some cases, night butterflies were expelled from the city, and even from the entire country.

This punishment was imposed on women who were considered extremely dangerous or a nuisance to public order.

Of course, women often broke the rules! The “keepers” were responsible for maintaining hygiene standards, but they only took the task seriously when they felt like it.

In the cheapest brothels, where the price of services was low, cleanliness was not typical.

We can briefly read about the circumstances as follows:

Behind the curtain stood a wooden bunk with a dirty, dented mattress and no bedding. On it lay a creature that didn't even remotely resemble a woman.

Another common violation of the rules was related to the age of the prostitutes. Police often found girls as young as eleven in brothels.

Most of them came from such abject poverty that they saw their new situation and adult work as practical salvation.

"I eat sweets, do what I want, and have fun," said one young girl. "At home, I just get beaten up."

Many girls were seduced and tricked by their would-be “guardians.” They looked for street children, watched them near schools. Some were literally bought from their parents – for money or food.



Brothel owners knew that young girls were their most valuable “commodity.” They were always in high demand.

During the raids, those under 16 were taken to shelters or orphanages. But the girls often ran away to return to their old 18+ craft. And then it all started all over again.

It was very easy to enter this system, but much more difficult to get out of the world of adult work. If a woman wanted to start a decent life, she needed a guarantor, who could be a close relative, a future husband, or an employer.

The guarantor had to go to the police station and declare that he would take care of the young ladies from now on.

So it wasn't easy for the girls to start a new life with a clean slate.

The biggest problem, however, was that many of them easily got used to the lifestyle offered by sex work. They were constantly offered alcohol and could no longer imagine any other life.

Dance jobs, partying at night, resting until noon, then lazy walks in robes and getting ready for more evenings – this was their everyday life. And this inevitably dragged them down.

Their health deteriorated, their humanity was lost in the world of prostitution. Those who initially shone in a reputable institution could, within a few years, end up in a third-rate brothel, where they had to receive dozens of guests a day.

Prostitutes faced a lot of adversity back then, but today there are much more favorable laws that help sex workers' lives, not hinder them.

And if you're interested in the historical past of erotic work, you can read more about how adultworks took place in medieval brothels here:



Source: Liked.