The Lewd Side of Real-Existing Socialism
Prostitution in the People’s Republic of Poland
Deutsche Fassung
Abstract
Prostitution in socialist Poland? According to communist interpretations, this deformity of capitalism was damned to die off. In fact, this “indecent act” rose steadily in the People’s Republic. Neither the strict control of prostitutes and a comprehensive albeit ineffective assistance programme, nor Stalinist-era efforts to make it taboo and criminalise it could change this. Even after the political thaw, prostitutes continued to be presented as immoral criminals subject to prosecution. Public debate of this topic remains in the initial stages; religious and social initiatives have been blocked by the state.
(Osteuropa 6/2006, pp. 302–317)