LECTURE 1 SOC 010
Sociologically defined, prostitution is an occupation in which an individual sells sex in a promiscuous and
emotionally indifferent manner. This definition is divided into four parts and each is examined separately.
The parts are prostitution as (1) an occupation; (2) an act of selling; (3) a sexual exchange; and (4) a
promiscuous and emotionally indifferent activity
Number Type of Prostitution Geographic Distribution
Widespread, particularly if alternative
work sites are unavailable (United States,
Street: Clients solicited on the street,
Europe, United Kingdom, Australasia)
park or other public places. Serviced in
1. and/or there is socioeconomic
side streets, vehicles, or short stay
breakdown (eastern Europe, parts of
premises
Africa, south and South East Asia, and
Latin America)
Preferred where sex work is
Brothel: Premises explicitly dedicated to
decriminalised or brothels are ‘tolerated.’
2. providing sex. Better security than street.
(Australia, New Zealand, South East
Often licensed by authorities
Asia, India, Europe, Latin America)
Escort: Client contacts sex worker by
Ubiquitous. In the United States escorts
phone or via hotel staff. Most covert
and private workers contacted by phone
3. form of sex work. Relatively expensive
and working from a ‘call book’ are
because of low client turnover. Service
known as ‘call girls’ or ‘call men’
provided at client’s home or hotel room
Private: Client contacts sex worker by
phone. Similar to escorts except services United Kingdom, Europe, United States,
provided in sex worker’s premises. A and Australia. Sometimes doorway (see
4.
variant in London and other big cities is below) and street sex workers bring
‘flat’ prostitution—high cost services in clients home
rented, serviced, inner city units
Window prostitution almost unique to
Window or doorway: Brothels with sex
Amsterdam and Hamburg. Doorway
workers on public display. Windows
5. prostitution found in less affluent areas
preferred in cold climates, doorways in
of European cities and in African and
warmer places
other developing countries
Club, pub, bar, karaoke bar, dance
Ubiquitous depending on types of male
6. hall: Clients solicited in alcohol vending
club available
venues and serviced on site or elsewhere
Other all-male venues: Clients solicited
in all-male venues such as barbershops,
7. Ubiquitous
bathhouses, saunas, and mining camps.
Serviced on site or elsewhere
Door knock or hotel: Unattached males
Hotels worldwide and wherever large
8. are approached in their hotel rooms or
numbers of unaccompanied males reside
boarding houses
Transport (ship, truck, train): Sex
workers may board vehicles to service
9. Ubiquitous
the crew or passengers or pick up clients
at stations and terminals
CB radio: Sex workers drive along
highways using CB radio to exchange
10. (jargon) messages with potential truck United States
driver clients. Serviced at truck stops or
parking areas
Other methods of solicitation: Through
Ubiquitous, but internet and mobile
various media including noticeboard and
phone services are mostly confined to
newspaper advertisements, ‘sex worker
large cities in developed countries—
11. catalogues’ with mobile phone numbers,
particularly the United Kingdom and
the internet via virtual brothels, etc.
Sweden where legislation limits other
Services are delivered mostly in brothels
forms of advertising
and other indoor venues
Indirect Forms of Prostitution
Bondage and discipline: sexual fantasy
through role play. May involve the
12. Apparently unique to wealthier countries
inflicting of pain, but genital contact is
not routine
Lap dancing: A recent development
Predominantly wealthier countries—
13. involving erotic dancing at close quarters
often takes place in hotels and clubs
without sexual contact
Massage parlour: Premises ostensibly
dedicated to providing massage, but a
14. range of sexual services may be Europe, South East Asia, and Australia
provided. In South East Asia similar
arrangements may apply in barbershops
Travelling entertainers: Actors,
dancers and others involved in
15. South East Asia
entertainment may also provide sexual
services
Beer girls: Young women hired by
major companies to promote and sell Cambodia, Uganda, other developing
16.
products in bars and clubs. Sexual countries
services sold to supplement income
Street vendors and traders: Ostensibly
marketing rural produce or other goods
17. Widespread in developing countries
but supplementing income with sexual
services
Opportunistic: A person approached in
a social venue may occasionally choose
18. Ubiquitous
to charge for sexual favours if the client
appears wealthy enough
Femme libre: Women, usually single or
divorced, who exchange sexual services
19. Central Africa
for gifts. The gifts are then converted to
cash
Individual arrangements: The single
mother who may have sex with her
landlord in place of rent. Older sex
workers who only deal with a small
20. Ubiquitous
number of regular clients, by
appointment. ‘Kept’ women or men.
Concubines. The number of possible
arrangements is vast
Swingers clubs: Some swingers or
couples sex clubs employ (undisclosed)
21. Predominantly wealthier countries
sex workers if there is a shortage of
female guests
Geisha: Women engaged primarily to
22. provide social company, but sex may Japanese cities
ensue
‘Sex for drugs’: Women providing
fellatio for crack cocaine in crack
houses. Young homosexual men in Crack houses are unique to the United
23.
Western countries may provide States
opportunistic sexual services paid with
drugs
Beachboys, bumsters, and gigolos:
Men and boys engaged by women
ostensibly for social purposes but sex is Resorts, particularly in developing
24.
often involved. Some beachboys are countries
under aged and many also service male
clients
25. Survival sex: A matter of degree, where Refugee camps anywhere
starvation or other serious deprivation is
imminent, particularly for dependants.
Food or security may be the currency,
rather than money
