The red light district located in Paris, Pigalle is referred as Quarter Pigalle. Although prostitution is very illegal in Paris this area is filled with strip clubs, sex shops, and bars with prostitutes waiting. Apart from prostitutes there are also beggars and homeless people loitering the area. Outside the clubs are pimps trying to lure you into the club and other females, the most popular club there would be Moulin Rouge which attracts most tourists, couples and especially men. The average “working girls” are usually about 20-35 and according to tourists they usually end up spending about 200-300 euros on bottles that the girls order but as for the other business its more pricey. Everything is covert and secretive, not even photos are allowed of any of the girls. As for their motives, I believe its for the money since the poverty is high in France.
-Bintou Samura
Paris’s red light district is refereed to as Quartier Pigalle. It is rumored to get its name from World War II troops calling it “Piggy Alley”, however, the district was actually named after the famous Parisian sculptor Jean-Baptiste Pigalle. As Bintou has said, the district is filled with sex shops that tourists visit, as well as the prostitutes that roam the streets looking for work. Even though prostitution is illegal in France, I do think that this red light district is beneficial. It not only attracts the people looking for prostitution, but it is a tourist attraction that creates money for France. People travel from all over the world just to visit this red light district. With any vastly populated area there are homeless people that wander the street, which puts a damper on the tourist attraction. Even though this district has a lot of history, the district can disappear if France decides to crack down on prostitution. However, this seems unlikely to happen given the amount of money this tourist attraction makes.
-Joseph Morreale
When you hear Moulin Rouge what do you think of? Does a book or movie come to mind? How about the song “Lady Marmalade” originally sung by Patti LaBelle? Which was later remixed in 2001 by Christina Aguilera, Mya, Pink and Lil’ Kim. If so would like to know the origin of Moulin Rouge? Well built in 1889 the Moulin Rouge is a cabaret which means it is centered on women and entertainment. Such as music, songs, dance and drama. It soon became one of the legendary spots for its topless revue shows. Alongside Le Divan du Monde which now functions as a concert space. These two places are located in the Quartier Pigalle also known as the red light district. The Quartier Pigalle, as said by Bintou and Joseph is the main attraction for visitors around the world to come in contact with nightclubs, adult shows, sex shops, prostitution and so forth.
– Keauna
4 responses so far ↓
n.mazza1 // Mar 2nd 2017 at 7:55 pm
I love that the Moulin rouge was the topic of this group. I was always curious and wondered where it originated from. I always thought of the song and the movie when people would refer to the Moulin rouge. Its interesting to know that this dates all the way back to 1889! This is interesting to me because it went against a woman’s morals to even speak about sex let alone show a little bit of skin back then. I wouldn’t have thought that in that year women would be open to nudity and topless shows for the entertainment of others.
k.stojanovic // Mar 3rd 2017 at 1:14 am
I found this post very interesting because Paris is one of my favorite cities; I was shocked to learn that they had a red light district. I also loved how you guys mentioned Moulin Rouge, in the first posting I immediately thought of Lady Marmalade, which I later read about, in your third posting. I was surprised to read that this red light district is popular among tourists; the only red light district I was aware about was the one within Amsterdam. I was also surprised to read that Moulin Rouge the cabaret is within the red light district in Paris.
s.domosi // Mar 3rd 2017 at 2:05 am
I am happy to be learning more about the famous Moulin Rouge. It is interesting how both Joseph and Bintu mentioned that homeless people live throughout the streets of the red light district of Paris. It is pretty unfortunate that homeless people live on the streets and in the same area that women are illegally making large sums of money. This is an sad reality and reflection of Paris. Joseph mentions that he believes that the red light district is beneficial for tourism which I do agree with because this part of town is infamous around the world.
a.wang10 // Mar 3rd 2017 at 12:41 pm
Our group also did a red light district in Paris France. As I did my research my results were similar as yours. For my group, the Rue Saint-Deni is considered pretty safe but I read some articles that Quarter Pigalle is not as safe and at times dangerous. I agree with you when you said that their motive could possibly be for the money because they wouldn’t need to pay for tax and would have an income. Also because since the Red Light District is also a popular area in France, the girls would make a lot of euros due to the popularity but in return give up their womanhood. I understand in order to not live in poverty, you must do what you got to do, but I feel it is unfair for the women to give up something so precious. It may be in secret but it will forever be etched in their minds forever.
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