An Anthropological Perspective on Prostitution: The World's Oldest Profession (Mellen Studies in Anthropology, V. 4)

To enhance the many studies and popular accounts of prostitution, Whelehan (anthropology, State U. of New York-Albany) looks at the non-work lives of sex workers: prostitutes, dominatrix, pornography actors, dancers, and phone sex operators. After introductory chapters on the historical and anthropological background, she focuses on 36 sex workers that she has experienced as ordinary people, very different from the commonly presented stereotypes and images about sex workers, and generally indistinguishable from people in the larger society. The text is double spaced. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)