WHO WERE THE PROSTITUTES? The
majority of the people who lived in San Francisco had moved there because
they had been unable to 'make it' in the bigger cities and were looking
for a 'fresh start'. The gold rush gave opportunity for people to come
and start a new life in business. During the gold rush, people did not
come for permanent residence; they came for pleasure and business. Within
the major ethnic groups, the Chinese, Mexican and Latin prostitutes were
at the lower end of prostitution, when looking at the hierarchy in the
prostitution world. The French prostitutes were regarded as the best women
in town because of their ability to lure men to them. Their pay was the
highest of all prostitutes and their fashion choices often set trends
amongst other women.
The prostitutes from China and Mexico were treated the worst out of all
the prostitutes. Both groups of women were confined to their owners or
people who had rights to their services. These women could not leave until
they paid off their debts. The travels of these women were horrible. Especially
women from China, they were young girls from poor families and their fathers
sold them to the highest bidder. Other young Chinese girls were kidnapped
from their families and sold to Chinese business' in San Francisco. When
they arrived in San Francisco, the amount of money they made was miniscule
compared to Caucasian women. The more the prostitutes made the better
the rank they had, and the better establishments they worked in. Click HERE
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