Identify Prostitution As A Social Problem And Analyze Durkhe

Identify prostitution as a social problem and analyze Durkheim's

This is two separate assignments 1. Identify prostitution as a social problem. Summarize the social problem from the lens of: The Symbolic Interaction perspective Your initial post should be at least 150 words in length. Support your claims with examples from required material(s) and/or other scholarly resources, and properly cite any references 2. Why do you think Emile Durkheim alleges that if we didn’t have deviants, we would create them? Support your answer with detailed examples. Your initial post should be at least 150 words in length. Support your claims with examples from required material(s) and/or other scholarly resources, and properly cite any references

Paper For Above instruction

Prostitution, often termed the 'world's oldest profession,' is a complex social phenomenon that has persisted across centuries and cultures. Viewing prostitution through the lens of symbolic interactionism provides profound insights into how societal perceptions and individual interactions shape its social reality. Symbolic interactionism emphasizes the importance of symbols and meaning in social life, positing that social problems like prostitution are constructed through social interactions and shared definitions (Blumer, 1969).

From this perspective, prostitution can be seen as a social problem because it is deeply embedded in societal symbols and meanings attached to sexuality, morality, and economic necessity. For example, in many societies, prostitution is stigmatized as immoral, which results in social exclusion for sex workers, affecting their self-identity and societal acceptance (Goffman, 1963). The labeling theory further explains how individuals engaged in prostitution might internalize these labels, leading to a self-fulfilling prophecy where they accept their roles as deviant, thus reinforcing social boundaries (Becker, 1963). Additionally, interactions between law enforcement, clients, and sex workers perpetuate perceptions of prostitution as inherently problematic, influencing policies and societal attitudes.

Durkheim’s assertion that societies create deviants like prostitutes highlights the functional role of deviance in social cohesion. He argued that deviance clarifies moral boundaries and promotes social solidarity (Durkheim, 1897). Without deviants, society might lack a clear understanding of its norms and values, necessitating their creation or acknowledgment. For example, the existence of prostitution helps society delineate acceptable sexual behavior, reinforcing societal morals. Moreover, Durkheim believed that the regulation or repression of deviance, including prostitution, serves to strengthen social cohesion by reaffirming collective morals (Seidman, 2010). In recent history, crackdowns on prostitution have often been aimed not merely at eliminating the activity but at reaffirming societal standards about morality and decency, thus indirectly fostering social cohesion through shared moral outrage.

In conclusion, prostitution illustrates the social construction of deviance through symbolic meanings, while Durkheim’s theory underscores the functional necessity of deviance in maintaining social order. Both perspectives reveal that social problems are intertwined with societal reactions and values, shaping the boundaries of acceptable behavior and reinforcing social cohesion.

References

• Becker, H. S. (1963). Outsiders: Studies in the Sociology of Deviance. Free Press.
• Blumer, H. (1969). Symbolic Interactionism: Perspective and Method. University of California Press.
• Durkheim, É. (1897). The Division of Labour in Society. Free Press.
• Goffman, E. (1963). Stigma: Notes on the Management of Spoiled Identity. Prentice-Hall.
• Seidman, S. (2010). Contested Knowledge: Social Theory Today. John Wiley & Sons.