Product Description
The intense urbanization and industrialization of America’s largest city from the turn of the twentieth century to World War II was accompanied by profound shifts in sexual morality, sexual practices, and gender roles. Comparing prostitution and courtship with a new working-class practice of heterosexual barter called “treating,” Elizabeth Clement examines changes in sexual morality and sexual and economic practices.Women “treated” when they exchanged sexual favors … More >>
Love for Sale: Courting, Treating, and Prostitution in New York City, 1900-1945
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This is a wonderful book. It’s fabulously researched, beautifully written, and has a compelling argument. Clement’s book focuses on the ‘gray area’ of sexual exchange–the series of negotiations in between prostitution (on one end of the scale) and marriage (on the other)–that Kathy Peiss identified as ‘treating.’ In this fab book, however, Clement expands on Peiss’ insight to show how central treating was to working class sexual practices, and situates treating in relationship to its near relations: prostitution, what we now call the ‘sex industry’ (exotic dancing, nude modeling, etc), heterosexual courtship practices, and what became known as ‘dating’ by the 1920s. Anyway, there’s lots more to commend it. It’s the next word on the history of prostitution and commodified sexuality in early 20th century America. I recommend it for teaching purposes, to be sure, but for general readers as well!
Rating: 5 / 5
This is a really in-depth and interesting study into the sexual and moral changes that occured in the United States during the first 50 years of the 20th century. I was taken with the level of scholarship, clear exposition, and insightful connections that the author brings to the whole subject of how gender/sexual roles evolved during this period. Although it is an academic book, it is nonetheless, an enjoyable and informative one.
J. W. Showalter, Ph.D.
Rating: 5 / 5