Sex for Sale
© Robert J. Atkins, Ph.D.
What is the difference between
obscenity & pornography?
• Supreme Court criteria for obscenity
 1.Work as a whole must appear to prurient
interest
 2.Offensive to contemporary community
standards
 3.Without serious literary, artistic, political or
scientific value
• Problem - highly subjective
Conflicting studies on the effects of
pornography
• 1970 Commission
• 1998 Commission
1970 Commission on Obscenity and
Pornography
• No significant, long-lasting changes in
behavior
• Recommended repeal of all adult
pornography laws
1998 Meese Commission
• Violent porn
 Causes sexual aggression
 Increases acceptance of rape
• Nonviolent erotica
 Considered destructive of social
mores
• Recommended
 Vigorous law enforcement and
prosecution of obscenity
What do other studies say about
pornography?
• When repeatedly exposed to pornography, both
sexes became less satisfied with the physical
appeal and sexual performance of their partners.
• Pornography produces unrealistic expectations
 Men are always ready for sex
 Women are highly responsive to any stimulation by
men
• Where pornography Is easily accessible, sexual
crimes tend to be lower
Do you remember?
• What was the Supreme court criteria for
obscenity?
• What were the findings of the 1970
commission?
• What were the findings of the 1998 Meese
commission?
• What did other studies say about the effect
of pornography?
What about child pornography?
• Internet sting operations are used to locate
and arrest child pornographers
• Computer generated images of children and
adults looking like children (under 18) are
both illegal.
• Not covered by the first amendment
 Freedom of speech
What about prostitution?
History of prostitution
• Greece (Hetairas) valued for
intellectual companionship
• Prostitution occurred in
religious temples
 Kama temples of India
 Temple of Aphrodite
• Considered scandalous but
necessary in the Victorian era.
What is the background of prostitutes?
• Backgrounds of prostitutes
 Extremely varied backgrounds and all walks
of life
 95% of teenage prostitutes have been victims
of sexual abuse.
 35% of New York streetwalkers have HIV
• Customers are
 Middle-aged, middle-class, married men
Do you remember?
• Are computer generated images of
children legal?
• Is pornography covered by the first
amendment for free speech?
• Was pornography ever allowed in various
temples?
• What is the background of prostitutes?
Brothel prostitution
• House where a group of prostitutes
work
• Common in early history of this
country
 Seattle seamstress
 Creek street in Alaska
• Owners typically collect about 1/2
of the prostitute’s fee
• Legal in some counties of Nevada
• Legal in Amsterdam
Should we decriminalize prostitution?
• Criminal penalties removed
• Women could do what they want with their
bodies
• Association with organized crime might be
weakened
What is COYOTE?
• Call Off Your Old Tired Ethics
• Prostitutes union
• Goal = political change
How can we prevent prostitution?
• United Nations Commission study of
prostitution
 To prevent prostitution, create other economic
opportunities for women.
Do you remember?
• How much do brothel owners collect?
• Where is prostitution legal?
• What happens if we decriminalize
prostitution?
• What is COYOTE?