ABSTRACT
In spite of the fact that an ideal picture of socialist society is expected to be put forth, certain types of deviant behavior do exist and such behavior is discussed in the domestic press of each socialist state. This chapter discusses a type of deviant behavior, namely prostitution, in Hungary between 1950 and 1975. The very existence of prostitution in Hungary is but one indicator of the failure of social engineering and typifies the persistence of an institution that has been allowed to flourish in an atmosphere of relative liberalism. The chapter is concerned with the theme that prostitution has been regarded by the regime as deviant and the regime's attitude and the ideological strictures that regard prostitution as deviant are not necessarily shared by the people of Hungary. One of the first acts of the socialist regime was to forcibly close down houses of prostitution in 1950 and force the prostitutes to obtain legal employment.
