A house or establishment where prostitution takes place; a place associated with immoral or illicit activities.
From Italian 'bordello,' derived from 'bordo' meaning 'border' or 'edge,' originally referring to the margins of towns where such establishments were located. The term entered English in the 16th century.
The word originally came from the physical location on the 'borders' or outskirts of medieval cities—society literally drew a line around where these establishments could exist, and the location became the word's name!
Historically refers to institutions of sex work, often associated with women's economic vulnerability and exploitation. Language around these spaces frequently perpetuates shame onto women.
Use neutrally when describing historical or contemporary institutions; avoid tone that blames or shames people who worked in these settings. Center economic coercion and choice constraints.
["brothel (clinical)","house of prostitution (formal)"]
Sex workers, predominantly women, have historically been criminalized while clients and operators escaped legal consequence; recognize structural inequity in how this language is deployed.
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