LaDestinn Garrison
Columbus State University
Prostitution as a Deviant Behavior in America
Prostitution is a profession or crime seen throughout America but where did it all start and why? Looking at the history of prostitution will help to describe what prostitution is and what caused it throughout history and mainly in America. Also, understanding prostitution as deviant behavior will be come clearer through the discussion of socio-legal controls and their effectiveness.
Prostitution and its causes
What is prostitution? Kendall (2007) defined prostitution as, “the sale of sexual service for money or goods without emotional attachment.” The service of prostitution that Kendall defined comes in various types. ProCon.org (2008) listed different types of prostitution such as “street”, “brothel”, “escort”, “private”, “window”, “doorway”, “transport” and various other types of prostitution. These types can be seen throughout the history of what is debated as one of the oldest professions in history.
According to ProCon.org (2013) prostitution was first recognized in 2400BC in Sumerian records. Also, ProCon.org (2013) noted that prostitution was connected with temple services and was among the list of entertainers for the temple. Around this time in history prostitution appeared to be accepted as the norm and continued throughout as the norm through the BC era. In the AD era prostitution began to shift into a deviant behavior instead of being a norm.
Meriam-Webster.com (n.d.) defined deviant as, “different from what is considered to be normal or morally correct.” Around 534 AD Justinian and Theodora started to address prostitution as an unacceptable behavior. ProCon.org (2013) noted, “They created laws that banished procuresses and brothel keepers from the capital, granted freedom to slaves forced into prostitution, and banned sex in public
References: Deviant. (n.d.). Merriam-Webster.com. Retrieved November 11, 2013, from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deviant Friedrichs, D. O. (2012). Law in Flux: Law and Social Change. In Law in our lives: An introduction (3rd ed., p. 322). New York, NY: Oxford University Press. Grant, M. G. (2013, February 18). When Prostitution Wasn 't a Crime: The Fascinating History of Sex Work in America. Retrieved November 13, 2013, from http://www.alternet.org/news-amp-politics/when-prostitution-wasnt-crime-fascinating-history-sex-work-america Kendall, D. (2007). Chapter Summary. Retrieved November 11, 2013, from http://wps.ablongman.com/ab_socialprob_sprsite_1/49/12568/3217438.cw/content/index.html MacKell, J. (2009). Keeping Prostitution History Under Wraps. Retrieved November 13, 2013, from http://hnn.us/article/86344 Marcin, S. (2013, March). FBI — Prostitution and Human Trafficking: A Paradigm Shift. Retrieved November 5, 2013, from http://www.fbi.gov/stats-services/publications/law-enforcement-bulletin/2013/March/prostitution-and-human-trafficking Palmer, J. (2012, December 13). Prostitution: legalize it, regulate it, and tax it - San Antonio Libertarian | Examiner.com. Retrieved November 20, 2013, from http://www.examiner.com/article/prostitution-legalize-it-regulate-it-and-tax-it ProCon.org (2013, August 28). Historical Timeline. Retrieved November 13, 2013, from http://prostitution.procon.org/view.timeline.php?timelineID=000028 ProCon.org (2008, April 23). What Are the Different Types of Prostitution? Retrieved November 13, 2013, from http://prostitution.procon.org/view.answers.php?questionID=000096