Modern society rule

You still can. You just have to be willing to die / ruin your body for a small pittance. So basically nothing has changed. All that being said, still want to be in the circus.

actors used to be lower than prostitutes in the social hierarchy

my cousin did this and is gen z, you still can!!!!

you never read Water for Elephants? If you didn't work hard enough they'd kill you by throwing you off a bridge on a moving train