The Political Economy of Rape and Prostitution

Abstract

The status of women as property is shown to be reflected in and reinforced by the social and legal perceptions of rape and prostitution in the United States. Rape laws and their enforcement are shown to protect a man's property interests in a woman. Prostitution laws and their enforcement are shown to allow the treatment of the prostitute as common property. The significance of race and income class are noted. The experience of women in capitalist and socialist societies is considered to determine the relationship between the elimination of rape and prostitution and the existence of private property and sexism.