I’ve participated on a particular public discussion forum way more than has been necessary. It’s called the HDH (High Dollor Hotties) forum and concerns courtesans, paid companions, and those who simply charge higher-than-normal rates for their time. Scrolling through the forum one will read page after page of what defines a “courtesanâ€, which nearly everyone seems to feel is the pinnacle of the “provider†spectrum.
When I worked, I aspired to be as courtesan-like as possible, using my own definitions, biases and prejudices. I know I didn’t hit the mark all the time. If I did, I would’ve achieved my goal. Every escort uses her own definition of what a courtesan is, whether self-proclaimed or simply jumping into a discussion. And then we have to contend with the long history of courtesans, which vary from country to country and century to century. The word “courtesan†has been used to describe everything from a modern-day Nevada brothel employee to a handful of rarified newsmakers and trendsetters in 19th century France and England. With such a wide range of concepts to choose from; what really is a courtesan?