Eileen McLeod

Women who work as prostitutes are struggling against a disadvantaged position in society. The relative poverty in which many women still live in is seen as the cause for prostitution, in that sex is their most saleable commodity and can bring them substantial financial rewards. Originally published in 1982 and drawing on her involvement with PROS (Programme for Reform of the Law on Soliciting), one of the Street Prostitutes’ Campaigns in Britain, and on interviews with prostitutes and their clients, the author examines how the financial benefits are offset by the attitudes prostitutes encounter from men. It is shown that while, in some ways, the role of client reflects men’s advantageous social position, male clients are often trying to compensate for failure in their marriage, or an inability to conform to the accepted masculine role. What the clients want and the conditions in which prostitutes work are discussed in separate chapters. Meanwhile, the Law, the media and public opinion unite to protect the public face of morality and to condemn prostitutes as a corrupting influence in society. This study concludes by showing how prostitutes’ campaigns are struggling with these issues and relates this to the feminist efforts to improve the conditions in which women exist and work.

Women who work as prostitutes are struggling against a disadvantaged position in society. The relative poverty in which many women still live in is seen as the cause for prostitution, in that sex is their most saleable commodity and can bring them substantial financial rewards. Originally published in 1982 and drawing on her involvement with PROS (Programme for Reform of the Law on Soliciting), one of the Street Prostitutes’ Campaigns in Britain, and on interviews with prostitutes and their clients, the author examines how the financial benefits are offset by the attitudes prostitutes encounter from men. It is shown that while, in some ways, the role of client reflects men’s advantageous social position, male clients are often trying to compensate for failure in their marriage, or an inability to conform to the accepted masculine role. What the clients want and the conditions in which prostitutes work are discussed in separate chapters. Meanwhile, the Law, the media and public opinion unite to protect the public face of morality and to condemn prostitutes as a corrupting influence in society. This study concludes by showing how prostitutes’ campaigns are struggling with these issues and relates this to the feminist efforts to improve the conditions in which women exist and work.

What impact can social work make on inequalities in health? Social Work, Health and Equality opens up a new direction in the practice and theory of social work. Focussing on the profound human suffering which arises from social inequalities in health, it: * shows how social work can make a significant contribution to creating more equal experiences of health and illness * describes the major shifts in conceptualisation, practice and organisation necessary to bring about change. The authors explore these questions in relation to four key aspects of health; health maintenance, illness at home, hospitalisation, and facing death. Grounding the text in everyday lived experience, they show how social work must change its discourse and its practice if it is to respond effectively to the challenges of its new role in tackling health issues.

This book explores the development of truly feminist social work, setting out the progress to date in establishing a feminist presence in the four central areas of social work: the definition of social problems for intervention, therapy and counselling, statutory social work and community action. Showing how progress in one area fosters the others, the authors also examine why it is crucial to ensure that feminist issues inform working relations and political organisations.