I might misunderstand you here but do you imply that all prostitutes are forced into their profession? If this is the case I would answer that yes they exist to please men, but then again a baker exists to feed people. The popular image of the victim whore is very problematic. Neither research or the prostitutes themself support it. Of course they do exist but going from that to saying every prostitute is a victim is a large generalization.
If you look at the biblical whore they were not prostitues in the sense that they took money for it (or at least that is not what outrages the writers of the bible) but because they had many partners. It was in the same way the godess Ishtar used the word when she called herself a whore.
Now if one accepts that women (or men) might chose this profession because of the perks or natural promiscuity then I don't see any reason that matrifocal cultures like the Lunar empire should have less prostitutes than any other areas. Especially if you have a powerfull cult to protect you from abuse at the hand of customers. Granted prostitution is not an universal feature, but I don't see anything in Lunar Culture that should work to limit prostitution. On the other hand they have a huge army and centres of learning where young, unmarried men (and women of course, but I presume that most are men) gather. These factors alone would indicate a strong presence of prostitution. And in line with the lunar norm of state cults I don't have any problem picturing state prostitution in the form of the Uleria Cult.
> My idea of Uleria, the Great Goddess of Love and Life, is more far
> reaching. Ulerians might run hospices for the dying or aged, orphanages,
> even animal shelters. They might arrange & perform weddings, or oversee
> festivals for children (as in David Dunham's Ralios campaign), or even
> occasionally offer to be intimate with other people.
Of course I can easily see this happen, but those roles seem to be taken in orlanthi culture (whatever that is) by voria & Chalana Arroy and Teelo Nori in lunar areas.
And I'll try to look for the Harald and Maude video :)
Jane Williams on the same topic:
>The Uleria temple in Boldhome is on the Truth and Freedom roads.
>Coincidence, or planning?
>
>It has three doors: for fertility, for partnership, and for
>entertainment. We are told that the "workers" enter by the last door. It
>is not stated that these "workers" are the sacred prostitutes made famous
>by the "all roleplayers are 15-year-old males" mentality, but it seems
>likely.
>
>Question 1: why is there a general assumption that these prostitutes are
>female? This is the comparatively sane Orlanthi society we're talking
>about, not the bigotted male-dominated mess the RW is trying to recover
>from. The object of the exercise is to celebrate Uleria's gift of love:
>aa far as I'm aware, men are capable of doing this, and women appreciate
>it when they do.
Although male prostitutes was never a large part of the total prostitution, and male prostitutes hired by women was a small part of this group I see no reason why part of the uleria initiates in Boldhome are men. This tradition might very well be imported, either by the Lunar Army or Esrolians. In rome men and women who wanted to hire a male companion went to the gladiators. Perhaps this is what those foppish Esrolian humakt cultists do to pay the rent? Those who are in the lunar army should have a fair chance of meeting their match within the army. But there might be a problem of roles and manhood, and this is where local male prostitutes might enter the picture.
>Question 2: what about those other two doors?
>"Fertility": presumably this is human fertility, rather than that of the
>crops or herds? (Since other deities have those in their care, rather
>than because Uleria isn't capable of it). So this is for barren women,
>sterile men, couples who can't quite get it together - maybe also women
>who want a kid but don't want a husband?
Perhaps they teach women the skills of love? There are historical instances where women were taught the tricks by prostitutes. Perhaps the liberal orlanthi women send their men to the uleria temple to have them taught some manners? Or just the general "how to get/keep/pleasure/ your man/woman"? Birth controll might be more up Ulerias alley than the traditional motherhood Ernaldan. Perhaps they teach that? It would fit well with the freedom and truth streets at least.
>"Partnership" - as distinct from fertility or entertainment? Uleria's
>dating agency? Uleria's marriage guidance?
I can very well see the need for this in freshly urbanized orlanthi who don't have a clan to fix these things for them. I guess there are a lot of confused bachelors walking the streets of Boldhome.
End of The Glorantha Digest V5 #362
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