PIMPING AND PROSTITUTION IN HALlFAX IN THE EARLY 1990s: THE EVOLUTION OF A MORAL, PANIC BY Tanya Dawne Smith Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts Dalhousie University Halifax, Nova Scotia April, 2000 O Copyright by Tanya Dawne Smith, 2000 National Library Bibliothèque nationale I*l of Canada du Canada Acquisitions and Acquisitions et Bibliographie Services services bibliographiques 395 Wellington Street 395, rue Wellington Ottawa ON KIA ON4 CMawaON K1AW Canada canada The author has granted a non- L'auteur a accordé une licence non exclusive licence dowing the exclusive permettant à la National Library of Canada to Bibliothèque nationale du Canada de reproduce, loan, distribute or seil reproduire, prêter, distribuer ou copies of this thesis in microform, vendre des copies de cette thése sous paper or electronic formats. la forme de microfiche/film, de reproduction sur papier ou sur format électronique. The author retains ownership of the L'auteur conserve la propriété du copy-right in this thesis. Neither the droit d'auteur qui protège cette thèse. thesis nor substantial extracts fiom it Ni la thèse ni des extraits substantiels may be printed or otherwise de celle-ci ne doivent être imprimés reproduced without the author's ou autrement reproduits sans son permission. autorisation. TABLE OF CONTENTS Table of Contents ..............................................................................................................iv Abstract ............................................................................................................................. vi .. Ac knowledgments ...........................................................................................................vu Chapter 1 Prostitution in Halifax 1 .0 Introduction ................................................................................................ 1 1 .1 Modem Conditions ..................................................................................... 7 1.2 Moral Panics .............................................................................................. 3 1.3 Social Problems ......................................................................................... 4 1.4 The Media .................................................................................................. 4 1.5 Racism ....................................................................................................... 6 1.6 Legacy ........................................................................................................ 6 Chapter II The Literature Introduction ................................................................................................8 . The .Politics . of Prostitution ...................................................................... 10 Feminist Approaches .............................................................................. 1 2 Canadian Law Regarding Prostitution .................................................. 14 Moral Panic Literatwe ......................................................................... 15 "Actors" in a Moral Panic ........................................................................17 "Folk Devils" ........................................................................................... 19 Disproportionality .................................................................................... 20 Moral Panic Critics ...................................................................................3' 3 Theories of Mord Panic ....................... ,., ................................................24 Chapter III Findings: The Data Set 3 .0 Chronology of Events ............................................................................ -28 3.1 Introduction .............................................................................................-30 3.2 Phase One .................................................................................................31 3.3 PhaseTwo ................................................................................................ 39 3 .4 Phase Three ............................................................................................. -46 Chapter IV Contributing Factors 4... -0 Moral Panic and the Media ....................................................................51 4.1... Fear .......................................................................................................... 52 4.2 Stereotyping ............................................................................................-55 4.3 Racism ..................................................................................................... 58 4.4 Literature on Racism and Prostitution ..................................................... 61 4.5 Racism and the Media ............................................................................ -64 4.6 Saiiency ................................................................................................... -70 4.7 The Victims .............................................................................................. 71 Chapter V Conclusions The Legacy ............................................................................................. 1 Changes to the Criminal Code ................................................................. 83 Review of the Findings ............................................................................ 86 Suggestions for Future Research .............................................................87 Final Words ............................................................................................. -89 Appendix Task Force Interview ....................................................................................................... 90 Bibliography .................................................................................................................... 98 This thesis examines the evolution of the prostitution moral panic which took place in Halifax, Nova Scotia, in the early 1990s. Prostitution has long been present in Halifax, yet in the 1990~~many factors such as racist ideologies, fear, the creation of "folk devils" and saliency of the issue, contributed to the creation of a prostitution moral panic. The panic was instrumental in the formation of the prostitution task force in 1992; the purpose of which was to combat juvenile prostitution. Having gone through agitation. bureaucratization and downsizing phases, the prostitution moral panic is now in its legacy phase. This legacy is characterized by new, tougher laws and legislation, heightened cornmunity awareness, and fewer young women being pimped on the streets of Halifax. The results of this thesis include a more comprehensive understanding of the movement of the prostitution moral panic through literature and media analysis, as well as reflections on potential research for the future. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 1 would like to express my sincere gratitude to the members of my thesis committee: Dr. Herb Gamberg and Dr. Chris Murphy for their assistance and contributions: and in particular, my supervisor, Dr. Don Clairmont, whose support. patience and faith encouraged me greatly. 1 must also extend special thanks to Mary Morash-Watts for her technical help and badgering of committee members, both of which 1 could not have managed without. Most importantly. I would like to thank my mother and father for their generosity. love and support; and to Andrew. who has show me love few ever corne to know. CHAPTER ONE PROSTITUTION IN HALIFAX 1.0 Introduction Prostitution is an occupation that has been a part of society as far back as biblical times and accordingly is often referred to as "the world's oldest profession" (McNamara 1994. p. 1 18). It can be found in every corner of the world and Halifax, Nova Scotia is no exception. Being one of Canada's most important seaports, there has for centuries been a busy schedule of ships entering and departing Halifax harbor. "Prostitution was likely to be tolerated in port cities such as Halifax ...where there was a large surplus male population" (Shaver 1 994, p. 127) and with this constant influx of men, the demand for the availability of prostitutes increased accordingly. Even popular culture recognizes this fact as locally made beer commercials depict Halifax in those tirnes as a seaport with beer halls that provided food. drink and women. Given this historical background, Haligonians are no strangers to the existence of prostitution in their city. The question that arises then is how is it that a city inhabited by people who have become accustomed to the prevalence of prostitution for hundreds of years al1 of a sudden become preoccupied with the idea that prostitution can no longer be tolerated? Why is it that this idea did not surface earlier and what triggered the wavcs of interest and concem for this subject? Why did this subject develop into a shocking one despite the fact that prostitution had been part of their city's history for hundreds of 2 years? What triggered these new responses to a very old problem? This thesis examines the answers to these and other related questions and describes the life cycle of the social problem called prostitution. 1.1 Modern Conditions The different conditions that applied to daily social interactions and rules in modern times compared to those from Halifax's historical past played a role in the fostering of new ideas regarding prostitution. One circumstance that existed