Īccording to a 1908 study, economic concerns were the main reason for turning to the sex trade in Porfirian Mexico, at which time 15 to 30 per cent of Mexico City's young female population was employed in the sex trade. Regulatory practices were most severe on the eve of the Mexican export-mining economic collapse, and had been met with backlash from women's rights groups in Oaxaca, Yucatán, and Veracruz. ĭuring the authoritarian regime of Porfirio Díaz in the late 19th century regulations in the forms of monthly quotas, medical examinations, and photographic documentation were imposed upon prostitutes. Though the French enforced supervision of prostitutes as a way of protecting themselves from infections similar regulations remained when Mexico regained control of the country. While in power, the French influenced the perception of sex work in various ways, as they categorized women based on their views of beauty and classified places where sex work was done depending on location and services available. Prostitution was first regulated in Mexico during the French occupation in the 1860s.These regulations which consisted of registering oneself as a prostitute and of regular health care check ups were implemented to protect European soldiers from contracting sexually transmitted diseases, since sexually transmitted diseases particularly syphilis and gonorrea were spreading quickly. Although Philip IV banned the practice, this was generally unenforced. Throughout the 16th and 17th centuries prostitution was tolerated provided it was kept out of sight. įollowing the Spanish conquest and establishment of New Spain, Spanish settlers created a demand for prostitution.