Sociologists hoping study gives them better idea of state's legal brothels

Barbara Brents and Kate Hausbeck say prostitution in the state has been little studied, both in its legal and illegal form.

Without sponsors for their research, the pair are working on their own time and from their own pocketbooks to understand the politics and economics of sex in Nevada.

"We're doing the best we can," Hausbeck said.

Their best includes writing a chapter for a soon-to-be nationally published book about America's sex industries. Hausbeck said their chapter, "A Cowboy's Mirage: Inside the Business of Nevada Brothel Prostitution," was written following a 10-day tour this summer of nine of the state's rural brothels.

"That was the most intense thing I've ever done," Hausbeck said recently. "It was extraordinarily interesting." She and Brents stayed one night at the Calico Club in Battle Mountain. During their trip, they interviewed about 30 prostitutes, brothel owners and managers, mostly about the business of running the nation's only legal brothels.

Prostitution is legal in 10 of 17 Nevada counties. Clark and Washoe, the state's most populous counties, are not on that list.

Brents and Hausbeck teach classes at UNLV about the sex industries to more than 60 students this semester, and their lessons have drawn some criticism. That has not stopped them from being among the few in Nevada to watch and record what is going on within the sex industries.

"Nobody has a handle on the economic impact," Brents said. "Nobody is keeping statistics on the customer bases of brothels and other sex industries. There is a lot to look at."

Through interviews this summer, Brents said they learned those who commonly use brothels in rural Nevada include miners, truckers and construction workers.

But the researchers do not yet have a database of details and statistics on Nevada brothels, Las Vegas topless bars, escort services and illegal prostitution.

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