Defining Prostitution:

Prostitution is the act of engaging in sexual activities with someone in exchange for money,
goods, or other benefits. It is often considered a way for individuals to earn a living, but it can
be influenced by various social, economic, or personal circumstances. Some people enter this
profession by choice, while others may do so due to coercion, poverty, or lack of other
opportunities.

Forms of Prostitution:
Direct Forms of Prostitution
1. Street: Customers approached in parks, streets, and other public areas
2. Brothel: Premises explicitly dedicated to providing sex.
3. Escort: The client calls the prostitute or gets in touch with the hotel staff.
4. Private: Client contacts sex worker by phone.
5. Window or doorway: Sex workers' brothels on public display

Indirect Forms of Prostitution

1. Bondage and discipline: Using role-playing to create sexual fantasies.
2. Lap dancing: A development involving erotic dancing at close quarters.
3. Massage parlour: Premises ostensibly dedicated to providing massage.
4. Travelling entertainers: Persons involved in entertainment may also provide
sexual services
5. Beer girls: Young women hired by major companies to promote and sell
products in bars.

Causes of Prostitution:
Poverty and Unemployment: Financial insolvency or widespread poverty is one of the
reasons for prostitution in Bangladesh. Due to financial insolvency, many women, suffering
from extreme poverty and hunger, willingly or unwillingly take up prostitution. George
Bernard Shaw said, a type of poor woman is one who is only able to survive due to financial
reasons.

Hereditary: Prostitution has also spread through heredity in the world. Generally, a girl born
into a prostitute's family is not recognized for a normal life in this country, and as a result,
she chooses the path of prostitution due to her lack of identity.

Divorce:When a marriage is divorced due to marital discord or for any other reason, the
woman's financial situation, including various other reasons, makes it difficult for her to
remarry, or even if she does, it is very late. As a result, many people turn to prostitution for
biological and financial reasons.

Urbanization and Migration: Industrialization and urbanization have disrupted the

opportunity for husbands and wives to live together. Many men stay in cities without their
wives for employment. As a result, low-income people come into contact with prostitutes to
satisfy their sexual appetite.

Human Trafficking: When someone intentionally takes someone or forces them to go to a

place for prostitution, engage in prostitution, or carry out another sexually explicit act, it is
known as sex trafficking or human trafficking. Force, threats, or coercion are frequently used
in sex trafficking activities. Although they can impact people of all ages, women and children
are most commonly affected.
Depending on the victim's age and whether the offender used or intended to use force, threats,
fraud, or coercion, sex trafficking can be prosecuted as either a misdemeanor or a felony.

Lack of Legal and social protection : The lack of social and legal protections in prostitution
frequently leaves sex workers open to discrimination, abuse, and exploitation. Because it is
either illegal or only partially regulated in many places, sex workers are unable to obtain
basic rights like protection from violence, healthcare, and legal assistance. Social judgment
and stigma further isolate them, making it more difficult for them to report crimes or seek
assistance.

Theoretical Framework for Understanding Prostitution in Light

of Criminology:
Different criminological theories hold diverse views on Prostitution. The following presents a
theoretical framework for analyzing prostitution, incorporating diverse criminological
viewpoints,
Functionalism: Emile Durkheim proposed Structural functionalism as a sociological
viewpoint that holds the idea that even abnormal behavior is functional in maintaining
societal balance1. From this view, prostitution may be viewed as a system that fulfills certain
necessary functions for society. It is seen as a way to control sexual behavior, particularly by
defining 'Acceptable' and 'Deviant' sexual conduct. In this way, it may contribute to
maintaining social norms about sexual morality.

However, critics argue that this perspective minimizes the harm and suffering caused to the
people involved and ignores the exploitation

Strain Theory: The theory is developed by Robert Merton which states that when there is
imbalance between means and goals, crime occurs2. From this view, poverty, inequality, lack
of opportunities leads to prostitution.
Critics argue that it oversimplifies the causes if prostitution.

Labeling Theory: This theory is developed by Howard Becker and it states that behavior
becomes deviant when it is labeled or defined as such by the society. This label can make it
harder for them to find other opportunities, for this reason, they also begin to think of
themselves as deviant.

Critics argue that this theory ignores the behind factors such as economic need, poverty,
discrimination, and coercion which doesn't offer any clear solution.

Feminist Theory: This theory on prostitution sees it as a result of Gender inequality where
women are victims of coercion and exploitation rather than having a free choice. 3 The reasons
are poverty, lack of opportunities and societal pressures. Some also suggest decriminalizing
sex work to protect the workers rights.

Critics of feminist theory on prostitution claim that it often exaggerates victimhood and
ignores that some women choose to work in this sector willingly. Moreover, critics also say it

1
Easy Sociology (2024) The functionalist view of crime in sociology, Functionalism sociology of crime and
deviance . Available at: https://easysociology.com/sociological-perspectives/functionalism/the-functionalist-
view-of-crime-in-sociology/ (Accessed: 15 December 2024).

2
The editor of encyclopedia Britannica Britannica (2024) Strain theory, Encyclopædia Britannica.
Available at: https://www.britannica.com/topic/strain-theory-sociology (Accessed: 15 December
2024).

3
Bilgrami, A.A. and Nasreen, S. (1970) Feminist theories about criminology, SpringerLink. Available at:
https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-031-46331-0_2 (Accessed: 15 December 2024).
concentrates heavily on gender inequality while ignoring other factors like class, race and
immigration status.

Rational choice theory: It is introduced by George Homans which focuses on choice made
by individuals based on cost benefit analysis. If the benefit of sex work are greater than the
other costs, a person may choose to engage on it. So it is based on personal calculations about
what will give them the most benefit with least harm4.

Critics argue that, this theory simplifies human behavior by assuming that people always
choose their path based on calculations of costs and benefits which totally ignores emotional,
psychological and social factors that can influence decisions.

Conflict theory: According to conflict theory prostitution originates from inequalities in

society and economy. Dominant groups like states or wealthy individuals maintain control
over marginalized groups such as sex workers by exploiting their labor rather than addressing
the root cause such as poverty or lack of chances. In brief, prostitution is mainly driven by an
unfair distribution of resources and power according to this theory.

This theory also faces criticism like it is argued that it focuses overly on economic contrast
and ignores other factors like personal choice and cultural impacts. Also this theory ignores
the agency of sex workers presuming they are always victims of oppression.

How Different Countries Approach Prostitution and Why?

Different countries have different viewpoints on prostitution based on cultural, religious,
legal historical concepts, views on gender, and sociological diversity. The approaches can
differ from criminalizing the act, regulating it, or decriminalizing it entirely. Here is an
overview of some approaches and reason behind it5,

4
T.C Calhoun, G Weaver T C Calhoun; G Weaver (1996) NCJRS Virtual Library,
Rational Decision-Making Among Male Street Prostitutes | Office of Justice Programs. Available at:
https://www.ojp.gov/ncjrs/virtual-library/abstracts/rational-decision-making-among-male-street-prostitutes
(Accessed: 15 December 2024).

5
Vagner, N.G. and B. (2022b) Global policy approaches to prostitution and sex work, Pi Media. Available at:
https://uclpimedia.com/online/the-oldest-trade-in-the-world (Accessed: 15 December 2024).
 Approach Countries Viewpoint Reason
Prostitution is illegal From the moral and
for both clients and religious view. Also to
workers. So, it’s a prevent trafficking
Criminalization USA, Russia punishable offense. and other related
crimes and maintain
social order.

Prostitution is legal To secure public

but heavily regulated. health, workers rights
They must register and harm reduction.
Germany, and state an affidavit
Netherlands, stating that they enter
Regulation prostitution in their
Bangladesh
own will.

To avoid exploitation
of sex workers by
middlemen, Reduce
New Zealand, Fully legal and no crime, increase tax.
Mexico, Canada laws penalizing Feminist Theory of
Legal criminology puts an
prostitution.
effect here.

Buying sex is Reduce demand,

panelized but not Gender equality,
Nordic/ Swedish Sweden, Norway,
selling trafficking prevention
Model France

France, Some USA Focus on the total Secure moral values,

states, Islamic states elimination of addressing root causes
Abolitionist
prostitution. and remove
exploitation.

Crimes related to prostitution:

Usually prostitution is linked to various crimes that impact individuals, communities and
societies. The causes of these crimes are influenced by poverty, human trafficking, lack of
legal protection and social stigma. Now I am going to discuss some crimes with real world
examples which are associated with prostitution.

1. Human Trafficking: It is one of the most severe crimes caused by prostitution.

Vulnerable individuals, especially women and children, are forced or deceived into
prostitution.

For example, in India’s Sonagachi red-light district, young girls from rural areas are often
trafficked with promises of jobs but end up being exploited in brothels. Similarly, in
Bangladesh trafficking victims are frequently lured through false promises of jobs but end up
being exploited in brothels like Doulodia.

2. Sexual Exploitation: Sex workers face sexual violence and exploitation from their clients.
Many are forced to work under harsh conditions without fair pay or safety. In Southeast Asia,
reports have published that the women being held captive in the red light areas, unable to
leave until they “repay” inflated debts.

3. Organized Crime: Prostitution is the cause of organized crime, including drug dealing,
money laundering, and illegal brothel operations. Sex workers and their clients take drugs
and these illegal drugs are available in red light areas. In an illegal brothel, the sex workers
create with their clients for more money, sometimes the clients become blackmail. For
example, in the Netherlands, some legalized brothels have been exploited by criminal gangs
for trafficking and illegal activities, despite regulatory measures.

4. Physical and Psychological Abuse: Prostitutes are at high risk of physical assault, rape,
and psychological abuse. In the UK, a study found that over 50% of street-based sex workers
experienced violence from clients or strangers.

5. Spread of Sexually Transmitted Infections: Unregulated prostitution can lead to the

spread of STIs, including HIV/AIDS. In parts of Africa, where prostitution is criminalized,
the lack of health resources increases this risk. Criminalized sex workers avoid seeking
medical help, further exacerbating the issue.

6. Public Order Offenses: Street prostitution often leads to complaints about public order,
such as harassment, disruption in residential areas. In our country at Mirpur 10, Farmgate,
Ramana, beside the National Parliament after evening near the red-light area's crime rates are
higher than other areas. Theft , pickpocketing etc are very common things in those areas.
Street sex workers also harass the local people.
7.Exploitation of Minors: Child prostitution is another dangerous crime. For example, in
Thailand, children from poor families are often forced into sex work.

Conclusion: Prostitution-related crimes not only harm individuals but also undermine
societal safety and morality. To remove these crimes anti-trafficking laws, protective
measures for sex workers, and comprehensive social reforms should be strictly.