Re: Clash of genders in same civilisation?
That’s an amusing paradox. Calling woman a courtesan in the times where brothels were considered so called academy of tehzeeb was the worst insult you could hurl at her, even today, this remains true.
Tawaif in those days was basically a prostitute who had to act like a lady in front of clients belonging to royal and aristocratic class to please their egos. No respectability, cultural or otherwise is associated with this term or was ever associated. It’s an extremely lewd and misogynistic term, especially in the context it is used today. Those who liberally throw around this word are simply pathetic.