Everyday Life of a County Town: Prostitution in Rostov in the 1850s through 1900s

The article examines the problem of urban prostitution in Russia in the second half of the 19th - early 20th century on the example of the district city of Rostov, Yaroslavl province. Based on the analysis of a wide range of sources, prostitution is considered as a socio-cultural phenomenon of everyday life in Rostov, which allows to identify the dynamics and characteristics of prostitution as an integral component of urban life. The paper examines the social status of prostitutes, the activities of the brothels’ keepers and the surrounding socio-cultural environment. The famous Rostov fair brought a special flavor to the life of the city, attracting girls of easy virtue. A medical and police commission operated in Rostov to prevent the spread of syphilis. Clandestine prostitution posed the greatest danger in terms of the spread of sexually transmitted diseases. The majority of public women belonged to the lower social categories. Visitant prostitutes, mostly single, lived in the houses of Rostov burghers, and the locals had their own housing. Women were restricted in their right to move freely and leave the prostitution ring. The combination of the professional activity specifics, social environment and predisposition to alcohol contributed to the formation of a criminogenic environment around them.