prostitution: Quick Facts

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The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

Oct. 23, 2026

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Facts

Also Known As	commercial sex

Photos

Hokusai: woodcut of a woman in a brothel doorway

Joachim Beuckelaer: Brothel

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Topics

brothel hetaira Prostitution red-light district human sexual activity crime cybercrime terrorism obscenity War crime human trafficking Genocide rape assassination Online predator white-collar crime

Key People

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Ada Everleigh

American madam

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Minna Everleigh

American madam

Al Capone seated and facing forward, wearing a dark three-piece suit, patterned tie, and pocket square, in a black-and-white portrait from around 1935.

Al Capone

American gangster

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Maria Monk

American author and prostitute

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Taoka Kazuo

Japanese crime boss