Kapronczay Károly szerk.: Orvostörténeti Közlemények 202-205. (Budapest, 2008)

TANULMÁNYOK — ARTICLES - FORRAI, Judit: History of the politics of prostitution in Hungary (19-20th c.). - A 19-20. századi magyar prostitúciópolitika története

The liberal regulations dealt also with "discret courtisans". These women were handled with attention: registration, medical examination and treatment went on confidentially, data were handled secretly, and letters were sent in closed envelopes. Abolition of prostitution in Hungary, something that had already been initiated in some European countries, was motivated by two perceptions: first, prostitution may not be considered to be a permanent occupation and, second, the world can not be divided into two parts: prostitutes and moral women. A wide overlap exists between these two categories. For instance, if a woman, in addition to her civil job, receives money for an occasional sexual service she has not been regarded to be a prostitute. Municipal Regulation enacted in 1909

19 dealt with prostitutes' protection from exploitation, and was aimed at stopping secret prostitution. It prescribed two-weekly medical examinations in the police health center for all prostitutes and also changes in the prostitutes' medical card which was required for their permits. Finally, it confirmed again the secrecy or confidentiality of these official papers. The fact that the new system was met with satisfaction can be measured by the fact that the number of permit owners (1109) exceeded the total number of private (768) and in-brothel prostitutes (321) in the year of 1912. Formal occupation Denomination Number ofProstitutes Denomination absolute per cent Artist 28 1.7 Nurse 17 1.0 Servant 598 35.3 Cashier 80 4.7 Hairdresser 17 1.0 Worker 212 12.5 Member of family 172 10.1 Civil servant 26 1.5 Bread girl 35 2.1 Day labourer 10 0.6 Governess 25 1.5 Waitress 214 12.6 Employee 49 2.9 Dressmaker 111 6.5 Flower-girl 5 0.3 other occupation 97 5.7 Total 1.696 100.0 The Minister of the Interior in his order of 160.100/1926

21 modified the regulation of prostitution. Interestingly, one of the paragraphs makes medical examination possible also 19 Ibid. 1909/1008. 2U Doros, G. - Mclly, J.: A nemi betegségek kérdése Budapesten (Problems of venereal diseases) Bp., Budapest Székesfőváros Házinyomdája, 1930. 21 Rendelet a prostitúcióról (Regulation on prostitution). Bp., Hazai ny., 1909.