THE OLDEST PROFESSION
David Bruce Bozarth
Copyright © 2002
I consider the Oldest Profession as we know it on Earth to be unlikely on Barsoom. A woman not protected by family, or a woman not married, or a woman not royal (high-born) would be...a slave. We have these hints from Gods of Mars and Swords of Mars specifically and, to a lesser degree, minor asides found throughout the Barsoomian series.
For clarification: Slaves are not prostitutes. Though a slave might be used for sexual gratification by their masters, the slave has no choice. Prostitutes sell their bodies to obtain income or other benefit, and do so by choice. In social terms the former is reprehensible, the latter is tragic, though under some circumstances can be understandable.
On Barsoom, however; I suggest consideration that other forms of the oldest profession might exist based on economic and social need and the knowledge that there are no lawyers on Mars and darn few laws other than tradition.
The surplus female population of Barsoom that is not protected by family is, if not actually enslaved, would likely be virtual slaves in Barsoomian industry and business--particularly the hotel, inn, and tavern businesses. Girls not wholly bonded (enslaved) to the owners of these businesses, but who are willing employees to the business, might be tempted to provide a side layer of services (sexual) depending upon their personal morality. I do not doubt there might be customers willing to be grateful in a monetary fashion in return for those sexual services.
Yet, it must be stated that moral behavior is the over-riding theme in the Barsoom stories. Barsoomian humans, particularly among the red race, were extraordinarily chivalrous and considerate toward women.
Martian Women, in general, do not feel threatened by men, in fact, they expect protection from men of their own nation and, usually, from men of other nations. Though wars abound and violence and danger is what rules all life on Barsoom, there is courteous society and tradition among the men and women of each nation. Rape, on the other hand, is not unknown: the Fate Worse Than Death was a common refrain in the Martian saga.
The reality is not every woman on Barsoom was a princess nor was every man on Barsoom a prince. The vast majority of Barsoomiams—male and female—strove to embrace those high ideals but the utter reality is there might be a small percentage of the female majority who never attained those high ideals or merely embraced the easy road we might call prostitution.
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