Seaver faculty Elizabeth Krumrei , Dan Morrison , Candice Ortbals , and Ben Postlethwaite are in the midst of a two-year research project, bringing together their four areas of expertise to conduct a more well-rounded study of prostitution.
Together with a team of undergraduate students, this group is conducting research to explore various angles and issues surrounding prostitution. Their work will be published and shared in a variety of ways β first, they are working together on a short-form manuscript exploring the four areas of research they explore collectively: psychological, business, political, health, and sociological.
Each chapter will focus on summaries of individual literature about prostitution, with breakout sections about other disciplines, theories, case studies, and global or local foci. They are looking at the "why" of prostitution and the response psychology and business as well as the "how" political science and sociology. Next, they are each working with their undergraduates to publish more specialized "spin-off" research projects and articles wherein they focus more heavily on exploring prostitution through the lens of their individual fields.
PR: Please tell us a little bit about the book project you are all working on. How does it marry your individual interests and research?
Liz Krumrei : I grew up in the Netherlands, where prostitution has never been a criminal offense. I was exposed to issues around prostitution as the legal status of brothels and pimping was changing.
