RAPE AND PROSTITUTION

• NCJ Number: 52586
• Journal: Victimology Volume: 1 Issue: 3 Dated: (FALL 1976) Pages: 414-420
• Author(s): J MAC MILLAN
• Date Published: 1976
• Length: 7 pages
• Corporate Author: Pennsylvania Governor's Justice Cmssn
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

CAUSAL THEORIES REGARDING RAPE AND PROSTITUTION ARE ADDRESSED, AND A FEMINIST POSITION ON PROSTITUTION IS VIEWED AS RESPONSIVE TO THE EXPRESSED CONCERNS OF ORGANIZED PROSTITUTES.

Abstract

A LIBERAL PERSPECTIVE ON RAPE AND PROSTITUTION SUGGESTS THAT LEGALIZED PROSTITUTION WILL EFFECTIVELY REDUCE THE INCIDENCE OF RAPE. WHILE SUPPORT IS OFFERED FOR THE GOALS OF ORGANIZED PROSTITUTES WHO ARE DEMANDING THAT PROSTITUTION BE DECRIMINALIZED, IT IS CONTENDED THAT THIS WILL NOT HAVE ANY DIRECT IMPACT ON RAPE. LONG-RANGE POLITICAL GOALS SHOULD NOT BE CONFUSED WITH THE IMMEDIATE SURVIVAL NEEDS OF WOMEN. SINCE PROSTITUTION WILL CONTINUE TO BE PRACTICED BY WOMEN AS LONG AS SOCIETY IS CHARACTERIZED BY POVERTY AND SEXISM, A FEMINIST POSITION ON PROSTITUTION SHOULD BE RESPONSIVE TO THE EXPRESSED CONCERNS OF ORGANIZED PROSTITUTES. A DISTINCTION IS MADE BETWEEN RAPE AND PROSTITUTION IN THAT RAPE IS AN ASSAULT AND PROSTITUTION IS AN ECONOMIC TRANSACTION. THE EXTENT OF SEXUAL MOTIVATION CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACT OF THE RAPIST OR PROSTITUTE'S CLIENT IS QUESTIONABLE; FOR THE CLIENT IT IS MORE LIKELY AN EXERCISE OF CONSUMER POWER WITH THE ACT OF BUYING GIVING A SENSE OF POWER AND CONTROL. THERE IS NO REASON TO BELIEVE THAT MORE MEN WOULD PATRONIZE ORGANIZED PROSTITUTES IF LEGAL SANCTIONS AGAINST PROSTITUTION WERE REMOVED, FOR THE SANCTIONS ARE NOT CURRENTLY ENFORCED AGAINST MEN. WOMEN'S POSITION OF SERVING AS A SEXUAL COMMODITY IS A COMMON DENOMINATOR THAT LINKS RAPE, PROSTITUTION, AND MARRIAGE. BOTH RAPE AND PROSTITUTION ARE SYMPTOMS OF SEXISM, BUT THERE IS NO CAUSAL RELATIONSHIP. RATHER THAN ATTACKING THE LIVELIHOODS OF PROSTITUTES, FEMINISTS SHOULD WORK TO EXPAND THE OPTIONS OF ALL WOMEN. DECRIMINALIZATION WOULD ENABLE PROSTITUTES TO REPORT CRIMES TO THE POLICE AND RECEIVE POLICE PROTECTION. IT WOULD ALSO DECREASE THE DEPENDENCY OF PROSTITUTES ON PIMPS AND ELIMINATE RELATED POLICE GRAFT. PROSTITUTES PREFER DECRIMINALIZATION TO LEGALIZATION, WHICH ENTAILS TIGHT GOVERNMENT CONTROL. REFERENCES ARE CITED. (DEP)