During the 16th century, prostitution was a common profession amongst women China and Italy, particularly Venice. According to Margaret Rosenthal, an active researcher on courtesans, this phenomenon occurred because of the constraints that were put upon women. In both societies, female citizens had little rights compared to their male counterparts. Whether these women belonged to the upper class or lower class, they were highly expected to work within the confines of a family setting as a homemaker. A woman's role was limited to the domestic domain according to societal standards in these two places. Thus, those domestically disinclined began to look for alternative lifestyles. As a result, the profession of a courtesan became popular with women. A courtesan was a type of upper-class prostitute, renowned for her extreme beauty and lavish attire. Unlike today's prostitutes who simply exchange sex for money, they were more like professional lovers. Most courtesans were gifted in!
             literature and arts, and in Venice, all courtesans were subject to special schooling. In both cultures at the time, courtesans were viewed as a female symbol of elegance, beauty, and unruliness. Prostitution was strictly prohibited in both societies. However, the numbers of courtesans grew
             continuously between the years of 1500 and 1550. Although prostitution was illegal in both China and Venice, it was often overlooked by the governments because huge profits benefited the governments and their respective economies.
             One of the most prominent features of Venice during the 16th century was the courtesan. Venetian courtesans of this period were not average prostitutes, many were wealthy members of society. Women that were born into a respectable family who already had inherited her dowries had the option of becoming a courtesan since they were the "wealthiest, best-dressed, and most desired women around"(Rosenthal 4). There was a special school designed fo...