Prostitution is defined as the practice of engaging in relatively indiscriminate sexual
activity, in general with someone who is not a spouse or a friend, in exchange for immediate
payment in money or other valuables. This is related to the definition made by Lena Edlund
(2002) which states that prostitution is the act of rendering, from the client’s point of view, non-
reproductive sex against payment.
According to studies, prostitutes may be female or male or transgender, and prostitution
may entail heterosexual or homosexual activity, but historically most prostitutes have been
women and most clients are men.
Since women are commonly the victims of prostitution, new definition of prostitution
aroused. One of these is according to Breaking Free Inc. which defines prostitution as a
systematic sexual violence and oppression against women and girls.
Forms of Prostitution:
Direct Prostitution
In this form, only sexual services are offered and the client has the right to choose
his/her sex partner. Direct prostitution costs less rather than indirect prostitution.
Types of Direct
Number Geographic Distribution
Prostitution
Widespread, particularly if alternative work sites
Street: Clients solicited
are unavailable (United States, Europe, United
on the street, park or other
Kingdom, Australasia) and/or there is
1. public places. Serviced in
socioeconomic breakdown (eastern Europe, parts
side streets, vehicles, or
of Africa, south and South East Asia, and Latin
short stay premises
America)
2. Brothel: Premises Preferred where sex work is decriminalised or
explicitly dedicated to brothels are 'tolerated.' (Australia, New Zealand,
providing sex. Better South East Asia, India, Europe, Latin America)
, security than street. Often
licensed by authorities
Escort: Client contacts
sex worker by phone or
via hotel staff. Most
Ubiquitous. In the United States escorts and
covert form of sex work.
private workers contacted by phone and working
3. Relatively expensive
from a 'call book' are known as 'call girls' or 'call
because of low client
men'
turnover. Service
provided at client’s home
or hotel room
Private: Client contacts
sex worker by phone.
Similar to escorts except
services provided in sex
United Kingdom, Europe, United States, and
worker’s premises. A
4. Australia. Sometimes doorway (see below) and
variant in London and
street sex workers bring clients home
other big cities is 'flat'
prostitution—high cost
services in rented,
serviced, inner city units
Window or
doorway: Brothels with
Window prostitution almost unique to Amsterdam
sex workers on public
and Hamburg. Doorway prostitution found in less
5. display. Windows
affluent areas of European cities and in African
preferred in cold climates,
and other developing countries
doorways in warmer
places
Indirect Prostitution
activity, in general with someone who is not a spouse or a friend, in exchange for immediate
payment in money or other valuables. This is related to the definition made by Lena Edlund
(2002) which states that prostitution is the act of rendering, from the client’s point of view, non-
reproductive sex against payment.
According to studies, prostitutes may be female or male or transgender, and prostitution
may entail heterosexual or homosexual activity, but historically most prostitutes have been
women and most clients are men.
Since women are commonly the victims of prostitution, new definition of prostitution
aroused. One of these is according to Breaking Free Inc. which defines prostitution as a
systematic sexual violence and oppression against women and girls.
Forms of Prostitution:
Direct Prostitution
In this form, only sexual services are offered and the client has the right to choose
his/her sex partner. Direct prostitution costs less rather than indirect prostitution.
Types of Direct
Number Geographic Distribution
Prostitution
Widespread, particularly if alternative work sites
Street: Clients solicited
are unavailable (United States, Europe, United
on the street, park or other
Kingdom, Australasia) and/or there is
1. public places. Serviced in
socioeconomic breakdown (eastern Europe, parts
side streets, vehicles, or
of Africa, south and South East Asia, and Latin
short stay premises
America)
2. Brothel: Premises Preferred where sex work is decriminalised or
explicitly dedicated to brothels are 'tolerated.' (Australia, New Zealand,
providing sex. Better South East Asia, India, Europe, Latin America)
, security than street. Often
licensed by authorities
Escort: Client contacts
sex worker by phone or
via hotel staff. Most
Ubiquitous. In the United States escorts and
covert form of sex work.
private workers contacted by phone and working
3. Relatively expensive
from a 'call book' are known as 'call girls' or 'call
because of low client
men'
turnover. Service
provided at client’s home
or hotel room
Private: Client contacts
sex worker by phone.
Similar to escorts except
services provided in sex
United Kingdom, Europe, United States, and
worker’s premises. A
4. Australia. Sometimes doorway (see below) and
variant in London and
street sex workers bring clients home
other big cities is 'flat'
prostitution—high cost
services in rented,
serviced, inner city units
Window or
doorway: Brothels with
Window prostitution almost unique to Amsterdam
sex workers on public
and Hamburg. Doorway prostitution found in less
5. display. Windows
affluent areas of European cities and in African
preferred in cold climates,
and other developing countries
doorways in warmer
places
Indirect Prostitution
