Prostitution in Germany is legal, as are other aspects of the sex industry, including brothels , advertisement, and job offers through HR companies. Full service sex work is widespread and regulated by the German government , which levies taxes on it. However, the social stigmatization of sex work persists and many workers continue to lead a double life. Sex work in historically German lands has never been outlawed and has been described since the Middle Ages. Some municipalities actively encouraged it and far from existing on the margins, sex workers were often honoured guests, who maintained domestic order as an outlet and lesser evil to such things as adultery and rape. Emperor Sigismund — thanked the city of Konstanz in writing for providing some 1, workers for the Council of Constance which took place from to
Pornography often abbreviated porn is the portrayal of sexual subject matter for the exclusive purpose of sexual arousal. The term applies to the depiction of the act rather than the act itself, and so does not include live exhibitions like sex shows and striptease. The primary subjects of present-day pornographic depictions are pornographic models , who pose for still photographs, and pornographic actors or "porn stars", who perform in pornographic films. If dramatic skills are not involved, a performer in pornographic media may also be called a model.