Prostitution – Then and Now by Rebecca Now What does a 19 th century St. Louis madam have in common with the sex workers in Thailand? I suggest it is agency, or the lack thereof. Agency, in this context is defined as the ability to control your own destiny, to be an actor versus a reactor to life, and to have choices. When we think of prostitutes, it is hard to imagine one with a sense of agency. If the trade is illegal, they may be harassed by police, and bullied and controlled by a pimp. One...