NCJ Number
84712
Date Published
1981
Length
16 pages
Annotation
An analysis of the law regarding prostitution in Great Britain concludes that the law discriminates against women and both reflects and reinforces the subordinate position of women in society.
Abstract
Although prostitution itself is not illegal, any approach by a woman to a potential client is illegal. A double standard operates in this area, since men's approaches to prostitutes or other public nuisances, such as selling religious tracts, are not accorded the same treatment. The double standard also operates in academic writings about prostitution. The double standard of morality expresses a more general social inequality between men and women. However, the law on prostitution cannot be understood solely in terms of male control over women in general. The legal repression of prostitution is directed specifically against working class women, as shown by an analysis of prostitution and legislation related to it in both the 19th and 20th centuries. Thus, legislation on prostitution represents a profound hypocrisy. Allowing advertising and reducing the restrictions on massage parlors and other similar agencies would be ways to remove prostitution from the streets. Although recognition of prostitution as legitimate work reinforces women's position as subordinate or sexual objects for men, it must be recognized that prostitution is a form of employment which may be reasonable given the choices available. No reason exists for continuing to regard prostitutes as criminals. It is hoped that the current discussion of the law will eliminate the moral hypocrisy, sex discrimination, and class discrimination surrounding it. Footnotes, 32 references, a table, and a summary of a discussion of the paper are supplied.