In-Depth Notes on Prostitution, Sex Work, and Pornography

Introduction to Prostitution/Sex Work

• Definition: Sale of sex for money or goods of value (e.g., drugs).

• Legality: Illegal in most of the U.S. (exceptions in some Nevada counties).

• Demographics: Most prostitutes are female and most clients are male.

• Historical Context: Often referred to as "the world’s oldest profession."

Categories of Female Sex Workers

Street-Based Prostitutes

• Description: Solicit on the streets; lowest-paid type of prostitution.

• Risks: High risk of abuse (50-90% work with pimps), more likely to have histories of poverty and abuse.

• Risks of Legal Consequences: Most at risk for arrest, drug addiction, and diseases.

Brothels

• Hierarchy Status: Middle status, live in the brothel, but share profits with management.

• Circumstances: Some may be there against their will.

  • Types:

  • Massage Parlors: Often serve as fronts for prostitution, common in suburbs.

  • Strip Clubs: Limited services, but additional services may be available for tips.

Escort Services

• Description: Found in every major U.S. city, often act as fronts for prostitution.

• Demographics: Escorts may come from middle-class backgrounds, often well-educated.

• Call Girls: Highest status and earnings; typically self-employed and more selective about clients.

Psychological Disturbance Among Prostitutes

• Research Findings (Farley et al., 2005):

  • 82% of prostitutes had a history of childhood sexual abuse.

  • 72% experienced childhood physical abuse.

  • 90% faced physical assault by customers.

  • 78% reported having been raped on the job.

  • 72% could be diagnosed with PTSD.

Client Demographics and Motives

• Typical Clients: Generally middle-class, often unmarried or unhappily married.

• Motives for Seeking Sex Work:

  • Sex without negotiation or commitment.

  • Seeking eroticism and variety.

  • Prostitution as a social outlet or escape.

  • Engagement in problematic sexual behavior.

Male Prostitutes

Categories

• Gigolos: Male prostitutes servicing female clients; typically serve older and wealthy women.

• Hustlers: Young men engaging in prostitution with male clients, often from troubled backgrounds.

• Others include strippers, call boys, and street hustlers.

Views on Prostitution

Oppressive Model

• Perspective: Considers sex work unsafe, unhealthy, and morally questionable.

• Viewpoint: Sex workers are often forced into the industry by external circumstances (poverty, coercion).

Celebratory Model

• Perspective: Considers sex work as empowering, with sex workers experiencing satisfaction from their profession.

Legalization and Regulation of Prostitution

• Benefits: Countries with legalized and regulated prostitution show lower rates of STIs, turning sex workers into taxpayers and providing safer venues.

• Critiques: Counterarguments point to moral degradation and the persistence of sex trafficking and slavery.

Understanding Pornography

Definition

• Pornography: Media intended to elicit sexual desire through writing, images, etc.

Issue of Obscenity

• Typically laws focus on obscenity; harder to prove "intent" for pornography.

Adult Film Industry Regulations

• General Rule: Pornographic films are legal subject to age restrictions (18+), with actors tested monthly for STIs.

Exposure to Pornography

• Statistics: Most individuals exposed by age 11; primarily through peers.

• Effects: Used to enhance sexual arousal and compatibility in couples.

• Gender Differences: Both men and women experience arousal, but women may be less accepting of sex without romance.

Research Findings on Pornography

Violent Pornography

• Impact: Can decrease sensitivity to sexual assault victims.

• Concerns: May legitimize violence against women and foster aggressive behavior among viewers.

Nonviolent Pornography

• Outcomes: Extended exposure may relax traditional values and lead to dissatisfaction with partners' physical and sexual attributes.