“Det smutsigaste som finns” En jämförande studie om synen på sexualitet och prostitution

Abstract

This essay examines the perceptions of sexuality and prostitution, during the regulation of prostitution at the end of the 19th century and today, comparing these two different historical times and their different views on sexuality and prostitution. The essay will analyze seven different texts which all in different ways refers to prostitution, there among debates and legislations. The theoretical ideas of disgust and stickiness from Sara Ahmed, and the theory about taboo and dirt from Mary Douglas will be used for the analysis, since the word “dirt” is mentioned in the texts as descriptive of prostitution. The method of this essay contains a discourse analysis and also makes for another theoretical starting point. The aim of this paper is to analyze and account for potential differences concerning the perception of sexuality and prostitution, and if so, how these have changed since the end of the 19th century until today. In the discussion that follows the analysis, the study shows that several discourses, there among morality, sex and power still are relevant for the subjects of prostitution and sexuality, even if they have changed since the late 19th century.