Prohibited Sexual Behavior and Sexual Violence

Prostitution: Historical Note 4

After WW I, prostitution in the Western industralized countries gradually declined. Nevertheless, for a variety of reasons, it remained a significant social problem. Whether prohibited, regulated, or tolerated, it was a constant reminder of a pervasive social, political, and moral hypocrisy, and it also demonstrated the continued dependency of many women who were victimized by a legal double standard. For example, where postitution was illegal, the police arrested only the prostitute, never her customers.
However, with the new “sexual revolution” of the late 1960s and early 1970s, things began to change. In 1973, a first organization for prostitute’s rights was founded in San Francisco: COYOTE (Call Off Your Old Tired Ethics). This was followed by the founding of similar organizations in many countries, a development that now has a global reach. Indeed, 1985 saw the declaration of a World Charter For Prostitutes' Rights.
The movement to organize prostitutes soon also led to the creation of an education network, and it proved its usefulness in the fight against AIDS, a new sexually transmitted disease that needs the co-operation of both female and male sex workers if it is ever to be conquered. Wherever this co-operation could be obtained, AIDS prevention made significant progress. In the meantime, one can find many informative web sites about prostitution in the internet.