Life of a 17th Century Prostitute
- Paul Rushworth-Brown
- May 31
- 9 min read
Updated: Jun 6
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It was Rudyard Kipling who first coined the phrase ‘the world’s oldest profession’ in his short story, On the City Wall (1898). The tale opens with the immortal line “Lalun is a member of the most ancient profession in the world”. Since then, the expression has fallen into common parlance as historical truth.
Life of a 17th Century Prostitute
The Life of a 17th Century Prostitute might have been a wretched streetwalker, marred by the tolls of venereal disease, alcoholism, and physical abuse. The harsh reality of their lives was often overshadowed by societal judgments and the stigmatization of their profession. These women faced immense challenges, not just in terms of their health but also in terms of their social standing and personal safety. The driving force behind most women selling their bodies was poverty, especially if the woman was unmarried, childless, and unable to work. Government officials at the time considered her responsible for her own well-being and unwilling to help; therefore, prostitution became the only option for lower-class women.
These women often lived on the fringes of society, marginalized and vulnerable. They lacked support systems and faced discrimination on multiple fronts. The cycle of poverty and exploitation was difficult to break, trapping many women in a life of hardship and suffering. The historical context sheds light on the harsh realities faced by women engaged in prostitution during that era, highlighting the complex interplay of economic, social, and political factors that influenced their choices and circumstances.
Historical investigations into early modern prostitution reveal a complex and grim reality that these women faced. The church and court records shed light on the harsh conditions they endured while trying to make a living. Streetwalkers, driven by the need to service as many men as possible for payment, operated in a dangerous and exploitative environment. Some of these women resorted to working at fairs, while others waited at docks for sailors, all in pursuit of earning money through their participation in sexual acts.
At the lower end of the market, streetwalkers often found themselves renting cheap rooms in slum lodging houses. These accommodations offered little comfort, with filthy living conditions and cramped, damp rooms being the norm. Landlords took advantage of these vulnerable women, demanding a large percentage of their earnings and subjecting them to mistreatment. In some cases, lodging houses doubled as taverns, with owners profiting from both rent and a share of the prostitutes' earnings.
Another group, known as penny rent streetwalkers, opted to rent rooms for short periods, allowing them to avoid living and working in the same place. This arrangement was not only more affordable but also provided a sense of separation from their work environment. However, there were even more marginalized women who conducted their business in the shadows of back alleys, streets, and city parks, facing heightened risks and vulnerabilities.
Streetwalkers' slang was not just a means of communication but a way of solidifying their bond as members of the sisterhood navigating the harsh streets. Their vocabulary, a unique blend of criminal and vulgar slang, set them apart and connected them to the wider criminal society. In their world, terms like diving, foyling, and lifting were not just words but actions that defined their daily existence, often risking their lives for a meager living.
Customers were not just clients but were given nicknames like rumpers and dicks, reflecting the dehumanizing nature of their trade. The phrase 'Six-penny whoredom' may have been commonly used, but the reality was much harsher, with prices often set at half-a-crown, pushing these women to constantly negotiate their worth in a brutal marketplace.
As time passed and age caught up with them, these women faced the harsh truth that their days in the trade were numbered. The desperation to survive led some to offer fleeting moments of intimacy in dark alleys for a few pennies, a stark contrast to the glamour often associated with their profession. Their lives were marked by fear, suffering, and a constant struggle for survival in a world that showed little mercy.
Pregnancy was an occupational hazard for many prostitutes, posing a significant risk to their livelihood and well-being. To avoid the potential consequences of pregnancy, these women turned to a variety of remedies that often involved the use of herbs and powders. These remedies, although accessible through apothecaries, were not without risks and were primarily aimed at inducing miscarriage.
Furthermore, the nature of their work exposed prostitutes to frequent sexual activity, making them more susceptible to contracting sexually transmitted infections such as gonorrhoea and syphilis. The treatment for these diseases was often brutal and involved the use of mercury, either orally or topically. The application of mercury ointment to the genitals was not only painful but also carried severe side effects that sometimes outweighed the symptoms of the diseases themselves.
Amidst these challenges, many prostitutes resorted to unconventional methods in an attempt to protect themselves. Some believed that frequent urination could prevent not only STIs but also unwanted pregnancies, showcasing the desperate measures they were willing to take to safeguard their health in a harsh and unforgiving environment.
Early modern women who engaged in prostitution faced severe challenges within their society. These women were not only categorized but also deeply condemned for their profession, leading to a life filled with hardships and constant struggles. Many of these women found themselves teetering on the brink of destitution, with limited opportunities for a better life. While some fortunate individuals managed to leverage their involvement in prostitution as a stepping stone towards more lucrative endeavors, like establishing themselves as respected mistresses of brothels, the majority of women exited the profession in a state of greater despair and desperation than when they first entered. The stigma attached to their past often followed them, making it difficult to escape the cycle of poverty and societal judgment. These women grappled with not only the physical toll of their work but also the emotional and psychological burden of being marginalized and ostracized by their community. Their stories shed light on the harsh realities faced by women in early modern society, highlighting the need for compassion and understanding towards those who have been pushed to the fringes of society.
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“I intended to read it over the next week but once I started I could NOT put it down.”
Reading the article about the life of a 17th-century prostitute, I was struck by how it described women being pushed into street-based survival work and often ending up in places like Bridewell for punishment, which shows how harsh the social system was at the time. It also made me think about how students researching social history might look for Help with Assignment Australia while using New Assignment Help for broader academic guidance, especially when studying historical social conditions and urban poverty in early modern cities. So sad
This article really made me stop and think. It's easy to forget that many of these women weren't simply making choices—they were often trapped by poverty, limited opportunities, and circumstances beyond their control. What struck me most was how quickly society judged them while rarely asking what had led them there in the first place. Reading pieces like this reminds me that history isn't just about events; it's about real people, their struggles, and the difficult realities they faced every day.
The poor. The outcasts. The women judged by circumstance rather than choice.
A prostitute in 17th-century England lived under constant scrutiny. Her story was often recorded in a single word, while the poverty, hardship, and desperation that shaped her life were ignored.
I've been exploring these forgotten lives through The Thomas Rushworth Chronicles, where history is not about famous names but ordinary people struggling to survive forces larger than themselves.
Because sometimes the most revealing stories are the ones history left out. Continue the Journey https://youtu.be/ddVLoMDxquw?si=EQi5IssyFA0Tdm0_
This is such a fascinating yet heartbreaking deep-dive into a part of history that rarely gets the attention it deserves. What strikes me most is how poverty, not personal choice, was the driving force behind most of these women's lives — a reality that feels uncomfortably relevant even today. The detail about mercury treatments being as devastating as the diseases themselves is genuinely shocking, and it highlights how these women were failed at every level — socially, medically, and economically. Paul, you've managed to humanize these women rather than reduce them to a footnote, which is exactly what good historical writing should do. As someone who loves researching social history, I often Help with Assignment Online on topics like gender…
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