The elegant prostitute;: A social and psychoanalytic study

By Harold Greenwald

Book Overview

No Synopsis Available.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0802700934
• ISBN13: 9780802700933
• Release Date: January 1970
• Publisher: Walker
• Length: 305 Pages
• Weight: 0.88 lbs.

Customer Reviews

The timeless predictabity of Psychoanalytic theory

This psychoanalytic study, based on mid-1950s research is classic and a good read. Although I don't agree with all of Greenwald's tenets, the book accomplishes its goal of delineating the who and why of prostitution from a psychoanalytic perspective. Evan as recent as 1999, a former prostitute reviewed this book and stated that much is still true today. One may ask that if psychoanalysis is not respected by all, is this because of what "modern" psychology doesn't want you to know? Promoting the causes of human behaviour requires more diligent thinking and the ability to understand oneself in order to understand others. The lazy way out allows for diminution of intellect to transgress lesser challenging modalities while offering an "appearance" of intervention, albeit with questionable results. Originally named The Call Girl, this most recent edition now emphasizes a continuity of personality between the call girl and the streetwalker. Noting that hostility expresses in self-attack in both groups, Greenwald reminds that fewer call girls are addicted compared to 90% of streetwalkers--the proliferation attributed to heroin. As much younger streetwalkers appear, this is due to heroin use in high and jr high schools. Nameless group sex [swinging, partying, freaking] introduces more impersonal sex than earlier promiscuity. The social psychology of the call girl is self image identification, while the amateur does it for the thrill of self-degradation. Although Greenwald noted that Russian prostitutes were (then) underground, Turkish college women assure me that young Russian women now have no hang-ups concerning sex and are plying their trade back home in Turkey. This is understandable because Russians lack repressive religious dogma--a dogma that is hellbent on control, at any cost. Greenwald even conducted a seminar on techniques of elegant prostitution only to find UK women's "lower level of sophistication" prevented them from using flattery that associates with a skilled call girl, citing this as a threat to their dignity. As further contrast in European vs. American prostitutes--suicide was a major occupational problem, along with having lived lives of deprivation. As economic conditions decline, we've seen rises in prostitution (Argentina) only to change as conditions improve and other choices present. On deprivation, Greenwald cites differential association with other prostitutes and the lack of happiness in childhood. This translates into significant internalized hostility channeled outward to others. More positively, Greenwald noted that with more permissive sex attitudes, the prostitute can be a sex therapist helping the lonely and rejected or those fearful of not performing satisfactorily. Duplicating tribal initiation rites of primitives, and throughout history, a significant part of American culture has sanctioned fathers hiring an older woman as a coming of age for their teenaged son. This is now villified when an old

Honest examination of a lifestyle frequently misunderstood.

Although this book was written in the fifties, I was amazed to discover how much still held true today. The methods of obtaining clients have changed with the Internet, etc. but the reasons girls got into the life, as well as john's motivations for seeing them, are dead on. As a former pro, this book was revelatory and much appreciated.