Prostitution in Europe by Abraham Flexner

Prostitution in Europe by Abraham Flexner is a seminal sociological study that provides an objective, analytical examination of the regulation and prevalence of commercial sex work in early 20th-century Europe. Commissioned by the Bureau of Social Hygiene, the text offers a comprehensive comparative analysis of various legislative approaches, including the "regulated" systems found in cities like Paris and Berlin, and the "abolitionist" approaches seen elsewhere. Flexner draws upon extensive field research, statistical data, and interviews with police officials, physicians, and social workers to explore the efficacy of state intervention. By deconstructing the legal, medical, and moral frameworks of the era, the book challenges common contemporary assumptions about the relationship between government regulation and public health. This historical document serves as an essential resource for students and researchers interested in the history of social policy, gender studies, criminology, and urban sociology. #sociology #history #criminology #europe #prostitution #nonfiction #policy