Prostitution Essay, Research Paper

Prostitution

Prostitution is defined as promiscuous and mercenary sexual behavior with emotional

indifference between the partners.

There isn’t a more specific definition because people perceive it in different ways. Some

view it as a dehumanizing act while others see it as an occupation that performs a useful

service to society. Because people aren’t always able to act out their sexual feelings how

they want, prostitution allows them to express these desires.

Most people think that the actual sex act is what is illegal. But it’s actually the solicitation

to perform that sex act for money or other valuables that is illegal.

In the United States, “it” is legal in only one of the fifty states, Nevada. The laws of the state

of Nevada forbid prostitution in counties with populations exceeding 250,000.

Street-solicitation is illegal; only in licensed establishments, called brothels, can you legally

pay for sex.

Condoms are required for intercourse as well as oral sex.

The women that work in Nevada’s brothels get regular medical checkups.

By law, Nevada brothels can’t advertise, so it is no wonder that you’ve never heard of them

before.

And you can find them listed in the Yellow Pages.

Many people assume that the only people who become prostitutes are poor, uneducated,

single women who can’t get a regular job. This is sometimes true, but often times, the

women may have part-time jobs and engage in prostitution for extra money. Some of the

women are even married with families.

Although prostitutes range in age and ethnicity, most arrests targeted people in their 20s that

were white.

There are many international aspects of prostitution that many people are not aware of.

Often times, organizations try to coerce or persuade women with money to go to other

countries Women are even kidnapped and taken against their will to be sold to private

parties as sex slaves.

In Thailand, there is also a major problem of underage prostitution. It is a widely accepted

activity. There is the belief there that children are less likely to have AIDS than adults.

However, a 1993 survey showed that more than 50 percent of the child prostitutes were

HIV-positive.

There are several types of prostitutes. The three major kinds are streetwalkers, bar girls, and

call girls.

Streetwalkers are the most common type and generally the cheapest prostitutes. They

directly solicit for clients in a public place, such as walking up and down a busy street.

Bar girls, the second type of prostitutes, also solicit clients in a public place. But they

usually choose places more sheltered from public view such as bars and casinos. Often times

they also use a pimp or make direct contacts with other employees that help to establish their

territory.

Finally, call girls are at the top of the prostitute list. Clients are referred to her from trusted

sources. Call girls usually work out of hotels or go directly to the clients home.

The majority of prostitutes are between the ages of 17 and 24. They reach their peak

earnings at 22. Many are from the lower socioeconomic status and inner-city areas. The

sole motivation for most prostitutes is simply the money.

The theory that is best associated with prostitution is the theory of differential association.

Prostitutes continually have intensive contact with other prostitutes and often associate very

little with people not in the ‘business.’

Women who decide to begin prostituting themselves generally know someone already in the

business and use them as a sort of guide to adjust to the new lifestyle. Also, contacts must be

established and a call girl who is already set and well known can aid the novice in becoming

settled. There is often a price for this and the newcomer must pay a certain percentage of her

earnings to her aid.

Drugs can play a major role in prostitution as well. Many prostitutes become addicted to

cocaine, heroin or crack and often exchange sexual services for another fix. This creates a

vicious circle – the prostitute must engage in more sexual acts in order to make enough

money and get her drugs.

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