Why is prostitution called the oldest profession?

Question

As far as I know there are no ape prostitutes. But apes groom each other constantly, so wouldn't hairdressers be the oldest profession? Or is this something uniqely human?

Answer 1

You're right about that...I would think (for humans anyway) the oldest profession would something like mammoth hunting, cave digging, rock bashing, or loincloth weaving, or a speech teacher ("ugh-ah ugh-ah") or something like that :-) What must make prostitution the oldest profession is that it is common to all cultures, countries and existed for very long time. Because sex is an ancient and primordial desire.

Answer 2

A profession is a job where you make most of your income from so unless the apes are paying each other in bannans NO. Prostitution is the oldest profession because it's been around since men and women were on the Earth because all men are PIGS and all they think about is sex!

Answer 3

Heres what I learned in my ap english class...The word f u c k comes from the (i believe they were given this as a tattoo) women who were allowed to be prostitutes. It stands for fornification under consent of the king. Women were only allowed to do so by his consent then. The tattoo (if im right about that part) showed the woman was allowed to perform the act. This could by why its called the oldest profession...Learned it about a year ago so the details are kindy shaky to me.

Answer 4

By definion, apes can't have a "profession."

pro·fes·sion Audio pronunciation of "profession" ( P ) Pronunciation Key (pr-fshn)
n.

1. An occupation or career: “One of the highest compliments a child can pay a parent is to choose his or her profession” (Joan Nathan).
2. An occupation, such as law, medicine, or engineering, that requires considerable training and specialized study.
3. The body of qualified persons in an occupation or field: members of the teaching profession.
2. An act or instance of professing; a declaration.
3. An avowal of faith or belief.
4. A faith or belief: believers of various professions.

Answer 5

This is something completely human so far as we know, of course. And, as far as being called the oldest profession, you can read of prostitution in the Old Testament of the Bible, the oldest dated text in the world.

Answer 6

Who knows, but No it isn't, The Clothing industry is, long before prostitutes came along, Clothes did, think about it, Prostitutes had to wear clothes when not in the sex mode for normal everyday activities didn't they?

Answer 7

I think you take the expression way too seriously...It's not meant literally. It means that women knew how to peddle sex to men to get something in return since...well since there were men and women.

And you're wrong about there being no ape prostitutes. Apes show very complex behaviors, and they have been known to offer "sex" or other enticements as a way to show submission to dominant males.

Answer 8

Because prostitution has been going on since records were kept. Women have done whatever they needed to do to survive, even selling there bodies. During the turn of the century women only had one asset and this is what they used.

Answer 9

I've never heard that expression. I'm sure it's been around a long time though. And because at one time it was not considered proper for females to work ...perhaps the expression is one of truth. At one time the mentality was women couldn't work but even then there were those who needed money to support themselves...so I guess they did the only thing that was allowed and probably excepted. (at least by some)

Answer 10

Hard to tell, but I think pimps came first, since women were subservient to men in order to survive.

Then the Jewish Old Testament kept them in their place, and the New Testament squarely placed the ills of the world on Eve's shoulders and further subjugated women (never mentioned pimps!).

My conclusion is that Pimps came first! Because in ancient times, if there was one enterprising woman who wanted a new loin cloth and earned it, some damn cave man would have stepped in, gave her a whack with his club and set himself up for business!