The Respectability of the Madam

A Female-dominated Activity

In 19th century France, the majority of intermediaries were women running state-sanctioned brothels. For both legal and customary reasons, women generally oversaw the maisons de tolérance. Parent du Châtelet explains in De la Prostitution dans la ville de Paris that brothels "have always been the exclusive privilege of women, and if some men have meddled in it, it was only ever in an indirect and absolutely secondary manner." [1] In this context, gender dynamics between sex workers and their employers were less polarized, because madams were seen as closer to equals. Madams were often themselves former prostitutes, and had a greater understanding of sex workers’ experiences.

Gender Stereotypes

Although the contemporary role of the third-party intermediary was largely delegated to women, madams were often characterized and stereotyped as having masculine traits which were seen as a requirement for the position. Parent du Châtelet writes that "strength, vigor, moral and physical energy, familiarity with being in control—something male and imposing—are to be desired in a dame de maison." [2] This is a common trope in popular depictions of madams, which show them as having masculine traits such as portly figures or aggressive facial expressions. For example, the painting Woman Pulling up Her Stockings by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, one of the artist's many paintings of brothels, gives a clear impression of these perceived masculine attributes. In it, a madam looks down imposingly on her employee with angular and aggressive features that directly contrast with the casual, submissive posture of the subject. [3]

A Respected Figure 

In 19th century France, the world of prostitution was not seen as respectable, and so the madam had to act as an intermediary between the souterrain, or underground, and civilized society. Having both masculine and feminine qualities helped create a more respectable persona that could easily transition between the two spheres. On one hand, there was the domineering, masculine brothel director. On the other was the congenial, feminine businesswoman who could best cater to the desires of her male clients. Note how in the attached drawing the madam is represented as a mid-point between the client and the prostitutes. She is similar in figure to the man and she is fully clothed, but she bows slightly while producing her lineup of employees.

La Maison Tellier by Guy de Maupassant

In addition to the documentation Parent du Châtelet provided, the novelist and short story writer Guy de Maupassant produced several fictional works that reference Pimps and Madams. For instance, his stories "La Maison Tellier", from 1881, and "L'Ami Patience", from 1883, provide descriptive and elaborative references to the personalities and day-to-day social roles these figures filled. Despite the stories by Maupassant being works of fiction, they provide context to the stereotypes established in this period of time. In his short story “La Maison Tellier”, Guy de Maupassant provides a Madam character that echoes the qualities strongly suggested by Parent du Chatelet. First, in describing the main character, Maupassant depicts the Madam as a figure that “everyone respected”. [5] After this initial premise of respect is established, Maupassant further describes the Madam as a figure who others would refer to as “calm”. [6] Finally, Maupassant demonstrates maternal qualities of the Madam through language that describes her “like a very good mother”. [7] Maupassant extends the positive depiction of the Madam through the use of the French word “mansuétude”, a descriptor that emphasizes: kindness, understanding, and patience. Through the descriptions of the Madam in “La Maison Tellier”, Maupassant highlights the literary positive attitude and understanding of this profession during this time.

L'Ami Patience by Guy de Maupassant

Guy de Maupassant’s short story “L’ami Patience” demonstrates the role of power assumed by Pimps during this time. The language Maupassant employs to describe the Pimp figure in this story focuses on perception and body language. For example, the narrator in the story describes the attitude of this Pimp character as someone who “everything belongs to” and perceives this character as “calm, with normal habits”. [8] Moreover, Maupassant reinforces and normalizes the role these figures hold in society and displays the position of power from a neutral and functional standpoint instead of a negative influence. Finally, Maupassant depicts the actions of the Pimp figure as being similar to “the movements of Napoléon” and through this reference demonstrates the link to influence and capable social standing. [9] Consequently, the depiction Maupassant provides towards this Pimp figure exemplify one of the more neutral ways in which this profession functions during the 19th century in France.