Sex work in Shanghai in the 19th and 20th centuries
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Sex Work in Shanghai within the 19th and 20th Century lead China to become known as the "brothel of Asia."[1] With Shanghai's rapid expansion of factories, migration, and refugees, gangs and prostitution quickly spread through the city. This resulted in the exploitation of young women and children, sex trafficking, and imperialist policies. In addition, social turmoil within the mid 19th century such as the Taiping civil war shifted the economic and political state of Shanghai.[2] This furthered the rise of prostitution to rapidly spread. A clear hierarchy within the sex industry soon began to develop creating a large class distinction between the sex workers. This forced many young woman to work tireless to reach ends meet while others were able to live lives of luxury.[1]
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The policies and laws that soon followed sought to eradicate sex work within China. However, despite being able to outlaw sex work, these policies were a turning point that revolutionized the industry. At the turn of the Maoist period, sex work returned to the spot light in a whole new way leading to what we see now in the 21st century.[1]