Prostitution in France the exchange of sexual acts for money was legal until April , but several surrounding activities were illegal, like operating a brothel , living off the avails pimping , and paying for sex with someone under the age of 18 the age of consent for sex is In the Napoleonic era , France became the model for the regulatory approach to prostitution.
In the 20th century, however, a policy shift became apparent. Brothels became illegal in , and France signed the Convention for the Suppression of the Traffic in Persons and of the Exploitation of the Prostitution of Others in France thus became a major supporter of the international abolitionist movement for the eradication of prostitution see Abolitionism in France.
Prostitutes were not marginalized, but integrated into society where they had a role to play. In stories which were often ribald , prostitutes would be complicit with other women in avenging men. The great Cathedral of Chartres had a window endowed by prostitutes The Prodigal Son in the same way as other windows were endowed by various other trade guilds The Trade Windows.
During the Middle Ages , the various authorities, civil or noble, oversaw prostitution as an institution.
Charlemagne AD was amongst those rulers who attempted to suppress prostitution, declaring flogging lashes as a punishment in his capitularies. This was primarily aimed at the common man, since harems and concubines were common amongst the ruling classes.
