Prostitution alteration: sex work and social pathology Cover Image

Alteracje prostytucji: sex work i społeczna patologia
Prostitution alteration: sex work and social pathology

Author(s): Paweł Poławski
Subject(s): Social Sciences
Published by: Instytut Profilaktyki Społecznej i Resocjalizacji UW
Keywords: prostitution; sex work; social pathology

Summary/Abstract: The paper examines prostitution as a social problem in today’s Poland from the constructivist perspective. In particular, it discusses its competing definitions recurring in the public discourse: on the one hand, there are those which include an ethical assessment of prostitution and focus on its pathological nature, on the other hand, there are definitions which underline its revenue-generating functions and the market nature of the venture. We also reflect on the available data on prostitution and sex business in Poland, analyze them in terms of their compatibility with arguments underling competing definitions of prostitution as an issue of public nature, and reflect on both the chances of its normalization in the social consciousness and on sources of negative evaluation of the social problem of prostitution. The paper is based on secondary data.

  • Issue Year: 2012
  • Issue No: 13
  • Page Range: 264-283
  • Page Count: 20
  • Language: Polish