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Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2010 Chapter 7 Outline Deviant behavior Global Perspective Health Aspects Tiers of prostitution Age, Class, Race Prostitution Functionalist Interactionist Conflict/Feminist Sociological Perspectives on Prostitution Pornography, obscenity, erotica Extent of pornography Research on Pornography Age, Class, Race Pornography Functionalist Conflict/Feminist Interactionist Sociological Perspectives on Pornography

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2010 Sociological Approaches in Studying Deviance Deviance as objectively given: Any person who does not conform to established social norms is deviant. Example: Prostitution and pornography are violations of folkways, mores, or laws Deviance as socially constructed: A behavior, belief, or condition is deviant because it is labeled as such. Howard Becker’s (1963) labeling theory contributed to this approach Example: Street prostitutes are more likely to be labeled deviant than are people who work for high-priced escort services Deviance is rooted in the social structure of society: Behaviors considered immoral, distasteful, or threatening to are defined as deviant by those in power. Example: Prostitutes are more likely to be punished than their customers

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2010 Sexually Deviant Behaviors 4 behaviors identified as sexually deviant: Premarital sex or fornication: Sex between unmarried people Extramarital sex or adultery: Sex between married person and a partner not her or his spouse Promiscuous sex: Casual sexual relations with many partners Underage sex or statutory rape: Sexual relations with children below the age of consent U.S. is one of the few industrialized nations that defines prostitution as a crime.

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2010 Global Perspective Prostitution : The sale of sexual services (of oneself or another) for money or goods without emotional attachment Referred to as “world’s oldest profession” Prostitution has become a global sex industry Businesses benefit economically from the global sex industry. (hotels, airlines, bars, brothels) Demand for prostitution greatest when large numbers of men are congregated for extended time (ex: military) In poorest countries women and children are often sold into the sex trade.

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2010 Health Aspects of Prostitution for Women Many woman see prostitution as a job or way to make money, but it is very hazardous to their health. Problems associated with prostitution: Physical Violence Bruises Broken bones Black Eyes Health Risks HIV/AIDs or other STDS Pelvic Inflammatory Disease Pregnancy related issues Emotional Health Combat disorder Depression Drug or Alcohol Abuse

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2010 Levels of Prostitution Escorts or Call Girls/Boys Hustlers, Strippers and Table DancersHouse GirlsStreet WalkersDrug Addicts Most Prestigious Least Prestigious Estimates of 100,00 to 500,000 working prostitutes in U.S.- but hard to estimate well.

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2010 Age, Class, and Race Age: Most prostitutes are between 17 and 24 Social Class: Lower income and poverty-level women and men are more likely to enter into prostitution Race: Wide spread image of black women as promiscuous. More whites arrested for prostitution than other races. Typical Customer is middle aged, male, white and married.

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2010 Insert fig. 7.1

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2010 Perspectives on Prostitution Functionalist: Prostitution offers several functions in society: Offers sexual gratification without a relationship. Serves as an outlet for those not in an ongoing sexual relationship. Provides an opportunity to engage in sexual practices a regular sex partner might be unwilling to engage in. Provides protection for the family as a social institution by distinguishing between “good/bad boys” Provides jobs for low-skilled people

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2010 Perspectives on Prostitution, cont. Symbolic Interactionist Prostitution as a career is similar to choosing other occupations Public labeling of people in such a career as deviant—and the person’s acceptance or rejection of that label—determines whether he or she stays in that career

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2010 Perspectives on Prostitution, cont. Conflict theorists: People in power define prostitution as illegal because they see it as immoral. Liberal feminists: Prostitution is a victimless crime that should be decriminalized Marxist and Radical feminists: Women forced to use their bodies to make money because of economic inequality Trace the roots of prostitution to patriarchy in society

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2010 Pornography Pornography: Graphic depiction of sexual behavior through pictures or words in a manner intended to be sexually arousing Obscenity: The legal term for pornographic materials that are offensive by generally accepted standards of decency Erotica : Material depicting consensual sexual activities that are sought by and pleasurable to all parties involved

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2010 Nature and Extent of Pornography Hard-core: is material that explicitly depicts sexual acts and/or genitals Soft-core is suggestive but not explicit Pornography is profitable to many, including investors, film makers, and owners of stores that distribute such materials. Porn film industry a $10 billion per year enterprise. Many formats for porn but computer technology is most prevalent.

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2010 Research on Pornography Studied by two presidential commissions with contradictory conclusions 1970 U.S. Commission on Pornography and Obscenity found no conclusive links between pornography and sex crimes or antisocial behavior 1986 Attorney General’s Commission on Pornography concluded that pornography is dangerous, causes sex crimes, increases aggression in males, inspires sexism, and encourages pedophilia (adults engaging in sexual intercourse with children) Sociological studies have not established that watching such films and videos contributes to aggressive or violent behavior Most adults do not support censoring pornographic materials

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2010 Race, Class, and Age Men watch more sexually explicit material and are more favorable toward porn than women. Women are more vocal in opposing porn than women Class-based elitism: thought that rejecting pornography is rejecting all that is vulgar, trashy, and lower class. White women much more likely to be portrayed in pornography Minorities more likely to be portrayed in rape, bondage, and sadomasochism.

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2010 Solutions to Prostitution and Pornography Functionalist/Conservative: Prostitution and pornography need regulation and control. Religious conservatives: these are threats to moral values Conflict/Liberal: Decriminalize these “victimless crimes” let adults make their own choices. Symbolic Interactionist: Need to find out how people in the industry perceive their actions and what social meanings they attach to their experiences.