Sodomy and Prostitution: Laws Protecting the “Fabric of Society”

[Excerpt] “Throughout history many people have viewed sodomy and prostitution as moral evils, because sex has often been linked to sin and, therefore, to immorality and guilt. For example, in ancient Hebrew, a sodomite was known as a qadhesh, a male temple prostitute who was associated with heathen deities and impure forms of worship. The female version of qadhesh, qedheshah, is translated directly as prostitute. This archaic view of labeling prostitution and sodomy as impure has been challenged over time, and both topics are still a source of great controversy. […] This note is a comparative analysis of sodomy and prostitution. This note will examine the history of both topics in the United States and, to a limited extent, in other countries. The primary focus will be on the laws and regulations governing people who engage in either practice, as well as the moral arguments used in opposition to either practice. The note will also look at the change in sodomy laws after Lawrence, current arguments for changing prostitution laws, as well as examine the effect the reasoning of Lawrence may have on future challenges to anti-prostitution laws. This note is intended to show similarities between the moral justifications for banning sodomy and prostitution, as well as the heterosexist influence on society concerning both issues. This note does not advocate for a change in prostitution laws. This note concentrates on a limited aspect of both sodomy and prostitution. In dealing with sodomy, the note discusses only consensual sodomy. Sodomy perpetrated upon a person in the context of rape or coercion is not discussed in this note. Additionally, consensual and voluntary prostitution between adults is the only form of prostitution covered by this note. This note will not address the prostitution of underage people, forced prostitution, or human trafficking. Part II focuses on a general overview of American regulations that are based on moral arguments. Part III provides an overview of sodomy and prostitution, specifically addressing how regulations are used to address moral issues.

Tackling Anti-Social Behaviour: A Critical Review

Over the past decade, anti-social behaviour (henceforth referred to as ASB) has become a focus of much policy-making and debate within central and local government and the police. Clear definitions of ASB are lacking, but the term is usually understood to refer to relatively minor criminal activity and non-criminal ‘nuisance’ behaviour that affects the social and/or physical environment of public or semi-public places. The term ASB is frequently used synonymously with ‘disorder’, and is sometimes associated with the concept of ‘incivilities’. Policy-makers and strategists, at national and local levels alike, reiterate that problems of ASB can have a massively detrimental effect on neighbourhoods as a whole, and on the lives of individuals. Hence strenuous and wide-ranging efforts are being made to support, develop and implement schemes for tackling ASB – involving a variety of enforcement and preventive measures

Researching trust in the police and trust in justice: a UK perspective

This paper describes the immediate and more distant origins of a programme of comparative research that is examining cross-national variations in public trust in justice and in the police. The programme is built around a module of the fifth European Social Survey, and evolved from a study funded by the European Commission. The paper describes the conceptual framework within which we are operating – developed in large measure from theories of procedural justice. It reviews some of the methodological issues raised by the use of sample surveys to research issues of public trust in the police, public perceptions of institutional legitimacy and compliance with the law. Finally it gives a flavour of some of the early findings emerging from the programme

Passive and active seismic isolation for gravitational radiation detectors and other instruments

Some new passive and active methods for reducing the effects of seismic disturbances on suspended masses are described, with special reference to gravitational radiation detectors in which differential horizontal motions of two or more suspended test masses are monitored. In these methods it is important to be able to determine horizontal seismic accelerations independent of tilts of the ground. Measurement of changes in inclination of the suspension wire of a test mass, relative to a direction defined by a reference arm of long period of oscillation, makes it possible to carry this out over the frequency range of interest for earth-based gravitational radiation detectors. The signal obtained can then be used to compensate for the effects of seismic disturbances on the test mass if necessary. Alternatively the signal corresponding to horizontal acceleration can be used to move the point from which the test mass is suspended in such a way as to reduce the effect of the seismic disturbance and also damp pendulum motions of the suspended test mass. Experimental work with an active anti-seismic system of this type is described

Setting the Groundwork for a Critical Sociohistorical Approach to Intercultural Communication

This paper explores the theoretical and applied groundwork for a new sociohistorical paradigm for interculturalcommunication. It argues that no academic discipline—intercultural communication included—grows out of a vacuum. Alldisciplines develop and evolve within the context of concrete social, political, economic and historical conditions and needs.What is more, these needs are not universal to all groups of people, either worldwide or throughout history. Instead, theyreflect the interests of certain power groups over others in the society where the discipline develops. Often, although wemay not realize it without careful critical analysis and reflection, our own interests as students, teachers, workers, familymembers, etc., and the interests of the power groups that the discipline serves are in conflict. This paper, therefore, beginswith an overview of the world into which mainstream intercultural communication was born and whose interests it hasserved. Following from this, it critically examines certain key theoretical constructs that underlie the field and notes howthey may also reflect interests other than our own. It then introduces the concept of liberation as a tool wherebyeducation and academia (including all forms of social research) can become empowering rather than marginalizing—that is,how they can serve the interests of the exploited and oppressed masses of the world rather than their oppressors. Finally,it asks readers to reflect on how a new and more liberating approach to intercultural communication might be possible. The theoretical underpinnings for this approach come from the sociohistorical psychology of Lev Vygotsky and A. Luria,the historical and dialectical materialism of Karl Marx and Frederick Engels, and the liberatory/critical pedagogy of PauloFreire and Ira Shor.This paper explores the theoretical and applied groundwork for a new sociohistorical paradigm for interculturalcommunication. It argues that no academic discipline—intercultural communication included—grows out of a vacuum. Alldisciplines develop and evolve within the context of concrete social, political, economic and historical conditions and needs.What is more, these needs are not universal to all groups of people, either worldwide or throughout history. Instead, theyreflect the interests of certain power groups over others in the society where the discipline develops. Often, although wemay not realize it without careful critical analysis and reflection, our own interests as students, teachers, workers, familymembers, etc., and the interests of the power groups that the discipline serves are in conflict. This paper, therefore, beginswith an overview of the world into which mainstream intercultural communication was born and whose interests it hasserved. Following from this, it critically examines certain key theoretical constructs that underlie the field and notes howthey may also reflect interests other than our own. It then introduces the concept of liberation as a tool wherebyeducation and academia (including all forms of social research) can become empowering rather than marginalizing—that is,how they can serve the interests of the exploited and oppressed masses of the world rather than their oppressors. Finally,it asks readers to reflect on how a new and more liberating approach to intercultural communication might be possible. The theoretical underpinnings for this approach come from the sociohistorical psychology of Lev Vygotsky and A. Luria,the historical and dialectical materialism of Karl Marx and Frederick Engels, and the liberatory/critical pedagogy of PauloFreire and Ira Shor

The use of social work principles in facilitating the cultural change in underdeveloped communities

Thesis (M.S.)--Boston Universit