History of Prostitution in Vienna in the Nineteenth Century

What is it about?

A concise history of prostitution in Vienna and the legislation that regulated it in the nineteenth and early twentieth century, including urban locations for both legalised and covert prostitution.

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Why is it important?

Vienna, the Habsburg capital and a Catholic stronghold, has a long history of measures against prostitution which, apart from serving as a model for other regions of the Empire, were also strongly shaped by the imperial court and the clerical elite. Vienna historically also had socially much more diverse prostitution networks that were not limited to the poor and the underclass, and historically strong traditions of misogyny. Modern efforts to curb prostitution included the so-called “vagabond law” (1885), which introduced tough punishments for illegal prostitution, up to forced labour in specifically designed establishments. Nevertheless, the number of controlled prostitutes significantly increased before and especially during the First World War.

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