Prostitution as a Controversial Social Phenomenon from History to Modern Age

Bjelajac Željko Dj. (Associate professor, Law Faculty of Economics and Justic, University Economics Academy, Novi Sad), advdrzb@eunet.rs

It is difficult to determine the moment of the establishment of prostitution. This complex phenomenon appeared at the initial phases of social development and subsequently modified and adapted to the historical and social changes. This phenomenon is highly adaptive and due to its specificity it is resistant to numerous socio-economic and political variations. There are multiple causes for this deviant behavior, ranging from the socio-economic ones on the macro level, to endogenous ones characterized by individuals’ susceptibility and tendency. Nowadays, this phenomenon undertakes new forms, types and methods of expression. Prostitution as a deviant sociopathological behavior exhibits multi-level associations with crime and thus requires suppression in order to be reduced to a socially acceptable level. The importance of youth education in terms of prevention of prostitution and raising collective awareness regarding its negative consequences represents an obligation of both state and family.

Keywords: prostitution; characteristics of prostitution; causes of prostitution; classification of prostitution; web prostitution; human trafficking; prevention of prostitution