American Prestige E214 - The History of Americans’ Global War on Prostitution w/ Eva Payne
Jun 3, 2025
Eva Payne, an assistant professor of history at the University of Mississippi and author of "Empire of Purity," discusses the complex history of America's war on prostitution. She explores themes like American sexual exceptionalism and its implications on global policies. The conversation highlights the troubling intersections of race, imperialism, and women's rights, particularly during the Spanish-American War and World War I. Payne also critiques modern perceptions of sex work, advocating for a more compassionate understanding of the industry's historical baggage.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Eva Payne's Post-9/11 Insight
- Eva Payne was motivated by post-9/11 rhetoric about "saving Afghan women" used to justify U.S. military action.
- She found this framing served as a smokescreen for expanding American political and economic interests abroad.
Contrasting Prostitution Regulation
- 19th century Europe regulated prostitution as a public health issue with medical inspections.
- In the U.S., a weaker federal system led to inconsistent regulation and local toleration instead of centralized control.
Racial Dynamics in Western Prostitution
- Regulation of prostitution in the U.S. West targeted Native American women disproportionately despite white women predominating.
- Racial hierarchies framed reform efforts, falsely depicting white women as pure and Black women as sexually available.