mit.The legal definition of prostitution has recently expanded in many Australian jurisdictions to encompass voyeuristic practices as well as non-monetary exchanges. Prostitution laws now make inclusions for massage parlours, phone sex and computer sex. Sullivans study into the politics of the sex industry in Australia since 1945, found that due to the shifts in sexual culture there have been discursive changes in societys view of what constitutes as prostitution and what signifies as deviant sexual behaviour. Post war culture accentuated sexuality as the source of individual uniqueness, later progressing into the ideals of equality and mutuality between the sexes thus producing our sexual culture, as we know it today. Defining prostitution as a devianceAncient civilisations did not condemn prostitution as sinful, but within the course of events over the past century, the view in most societies has changed to deem the act to the contrary (Thio p 214). To define prostitution as a deviance one must take into consideration the dynamics to which it applies. In correspondence with the Interactionist Perspective, Anleu observes how it is not the act of prostitution but how people identify it that makes it deviant . According to Roach Anleu (p 70) prostitutes carry the general label of those who deviate from gender norms of monogamy, virginity, marriage and etiquette. In the eyes of society prostitution conjures up thoughts of licentious, unruly sexual antics, monogamy, incessant sexual offences and an element of notoriety. This opinion is confirmed by a research on prostitution by Karen Sharpe . She believes much of the concern over prostitution is due to it being regarded as a moral problem and a vice, which is either anti-social, or in some way vexing to others. The author theorises the problems associated with prostitution are: alcohol abuse, drug addiction, violence, sexual diseases and the adoption of anti-social values caused by the a...
