PROSTITUTION - AN EXTREME CASE OF SEX STRATIFICATION (FROM CRIMINOLOGY OF DEVIANT WOMEN, 1979, BY FREDA ADLER AND RITA JAMES SIMON - SEE NCJ-56469)

• NCJ Number: 56476
• Author(s): B HEYL
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 15 pages
• Corporate Author: Houghton Mifflin Co
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: *This document is currently unavailable from NCJRS. PRESENTED TO THE SOUTHWESTERN SOCIOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION MEETINGS, DALLAS, TX, APRIL 9, 1976

Annotation

THE MALE DOMINATION AND SOCIAL STRATIFICATION IN THE BUSINESS OF PROSTITUTION ARE DISCUSSED.

Abstract

PIMPS, POLICE, AND BUSINESSMEN ARE DISCUSSED AS SOME OF THE MALE-DOMINATED GROUPS THAT HAVE POWER OVER THE PROSTITUTE. NUMEROUS OTHER MALE GROUPS BENEFIT FROM PROSTITUTION, INCLUDING THE LANDLORDS WHOSE FACILITIES ARE USED FOR PROSTITUTION. POLITICIANS AND POLICE WIN PUBLIC APPROVAL AND SUPPORT WITH EACH OF THEIR HIGHLY PUBLICIZED 'CLEANUP' CAMPAIGNS; THE MEN ON PROSTITUTION SQUADS EARN THEIR LIVING BECAUSE PROSTITUTION IS A THRIVING BUSINESS THAT SOCIETY HAS MADE ILLEGAL; SOME POLICEMEN GAIN IN PAYOFFS FROM PROSTITUTES AND MADAMS SEEKING TO AVOID ARREST; THE COURTS MAKE FINE AND BOND MONEY FROM THE STEADY PROCESSING OF PROSTITUTES IN AND OUT OF THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM; TAXI DRIVERS AND BELLHOPS DEMAND A CUT OF THE WOMAN'S PROFITS IN RETURN FOR SENDING HER BUSINESS. THE ANALYSIS DEVELOPED HERE REVEALS PROSTITUTION AS AN EXTREME CASE OF SEX STRATIFICATION, WITH ALL THE MALES WINNING, WHILE THE WOMEN PAY THE COSTS EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE ESSENTIAL TO THE SERVICE. THE PENALTIES OF PROSTITUTION DO NOT FALL EVENLY ON ALL WOMEN IN THE BUSINESS, HOWEVER. THE COMBINED POLICE AND PIMP POWER AT THE LOWER LEVELS OF THE OCCUPATION PLACES THE PROSTITUTE IN A MORE DEPENDENT POSITION THAN DOES THE ECONOMICALLY BASED POWER OF THE BUSINESSMAN AT THE UPPER LEVELS. AT THE LOWER LEVELS, THE PROSTITUTE'S VERY SURVIVAL COULD DEPEND ON HER MALE CONNECTION. MOREOVER, ANALYSIS OF THE STRATIFIED NATURE OF THE PROSTITUTION WORLD SHOWS THAT UPWARD MOBILITY IN THE OCCUPATION IS RARE. THE WOMAN'S CHANCES FOR WORKING AT THE CALL GIRL LEVEL, WHERE WHE HAS SOME DEGREE OF AUTONOMY, ARE CONTINGENT ON WHERE SHE ENTERS THE PROFESSION INITIALLY; AND THE ECONOMIC/CLASS BACKGROUND OF THE WOMAN APPEARS TO BE A STRONG INDICATOR OF THE LEVEL AT WHICH SHE WILL WORK AS A PROTITUTE. THUS, WOMEN WORKING AT THE LOWER LEVELS OF THE PROSTITUTION WORLD ARE THE MOST DOMINATED AND THE MOST VULNERABLE TO SELECTIVE LAW ENFORCEMENT. NOTES AND REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED--RCB)