The social strain theory is one of the four social theories of deviance that uses social pressure and context in explaining deviance. As such, one can explain prostitution using the social strain theories of deviance because of its socio-economic complexity. For one, prostitution has been a controversial topic for a long time now. Being one of the oldest professions on earth, it has gained more dismissal than approvals from socially concerned people in society (MCCABE, 2016) . One of the factors that defend prostitution is the fact that it empowers participants economically. Annually it provides revenue of over $100 billion. On the contrary, it raises criticism by conflicting with societal beliefs of gaining monetary gains from biological urges (Fitzgerald, 2017) . It also increases public health, crime, and prevalence of sexual exploitation issues. In the discussion of prostitution as a deviant behavior, the emphasis is based on why it is a deviance behavior and the effect on society.
Why Prostitution Is Considered Deviant
According to proponents of the social strain, theory behavior is considered deviant when it provides means of achieving societal goals that defy another societal belief. In the case of prostitution, the push factor is getting income. However, the income is obtained through a culturally condemned manner that exchanges biological urges for money. The push factor for prostitution is further linked to stress factors that emanate from societal demands, personal demands, and the parenting role of society. The stressors, therefore, predispose individuals to seek a way of overcoming the cultural roadblock presented in their quest to get an income (Fitzgerald, 2017) .
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How the Prostitution Deviants View Their Behaviour
The recognition that prostitution is the oldest profession indicates that the deviants have the option of viewing it as a long term deviance career. Nonetheless, just like any deviant, individuals overcome the cultural restriction to meet their financial needs. As such, it depends on the individuals' motivators that determine their level of indulgence in prostitution. For instance, some of the prostitutes are forced into practice as the only economical way to sustain their leaving. On the contrary, others succumb to a short-term stressor such as the need to get quick cash for activities such as drug abuse or financing a lavish lifestyle but quit from it after that (MCCABE, 2016) .
The Impact of Prostitution to the Society
Prostitution as a deviance, impacts to the society both positively and negatively. First, its positive impact comes from the societies that have embraced it as a socially acceptable practice. As such, adults can give consent to their engagement streamlining their public health through planned engagement procedures like safe sex. The participants also get an income. Finally, it reduces crime because its acceptance neutralizes its illegality.
On the contrary, prostitution affects society negatively by increasing its predisposing factors. It allows young individuals to realize that they can earn easy money by engaging in the practice other than pursuing the more competitive legal socio-economic activities. The prevention of people engaging in prostitution, on the other hand wastes the tax payers' money that would have been used in other developmental projects. Finally, prostitution is known to bread other negative socio-cultural behaviors such as drug abuse, the transmission of sexually transmitted diseases, and crime that strain the societal moral and economic fabric.
The Societal Response to Prostitution
For the long history of prostitution, the society is torn between accepting it and discouraging it. Some proponents have accepted it and laid a framework of engagement. As such, it has a legal framework, and participants enjoy protection and rights. On the other hand, the majority of societies, especially religion, continue to discourage it. Thus, the opponents work on alleviating the stressors, such as empowering low-income families, legislating against it, and protecting the vulnerable communities.
An Analysis of Prostitution from the Social Strain Theory
Proponents of the social strain theory, such as Robert K. Merton, argue than deviants depend on the level to which the society provides to achieving socio-cultural goals. As such, activities such as prostitution offer the participants a means of achieving social-economical goals that include financial empowerment. However, they gain economic empowerment at the peril of overlooking the culturally unacceptable behavior of gain money in exchange for sex. The proponents point out that the stressors of engaging in prostitution include poverty, poor parenting, and socio-economic demands. For instance, research has found out that 70% of prostitutes in the United Kingdom are single mothers that have no alternative source of income. The statistics emphasize the social-economic pressure the single mothers have to overcome to fend for their children (Cruz, 2018 & Fitzgerald, 2017) .
Conclusion
In conclusion, prostitution is one of the practices that can be analyzed using the social strain theory of deviance. The practice is placed into the context of the deviance and analyzed using the strain theory because participants overcome the societal barrier of discouraging prostitution to gain economic stability. Although it is the oldest profession, it has earned criticism that supposes its acceptance. Proponents champion for its legalization to alleviate legal issues, improve public health, and the economic status of the participants. Opponents, on the other hand, disagree because it predisposes a more vulnerable population to the habit of exposing them to crime. Drug abuse and the danger of contracting sexually transmitted diseases.
References
Cruz, K. (2018). Jane Scoular: The Subject of Prostitution: Sex Work, Law, and Social Theory. Feminist Legal Studies , 26 (2), 215-218. DOI: 10.1007/s10691-018-9366-3
Fitzgerald, S. (2017). Book Review: The Subject of Prostitution: Sex Work, Law, and Social Theory. Social & Legal Studies , 27 (1), 114-117. DOI: 10.1177/0964663917740424
MCCABE, J. (2016). STORY OF THE WORLD'S OLDEST PROFESSION . [Place of publication not identified]: Book TREE.
