The book City of Eros: New York City, Prostitution, and the Commercialization of Sex 1790-1920, written by Timothy J. Gilfoyle, explains the sexual transformation of New York and its inhabitants experienced. Gilfoyle emphasizes the idea that sex had not been commercialized before this period. This new sex industry expanded throughout New York City. Gilfoyle says the public viewed prostitution in many ways; there were citizens who considered it a necessary urban evil and others as a moral disease. Many people thought that prostitution consisted of wretched women choosing to sell themselves for the thrill of it, a common misconception. A handful of prostitutes became successful madams, acquiring enormous amounts of wealth and power. With the rise of commercialized sex has also come a dramatic increase in violence against women, leading to the creation of the pimp. Gilfoyle also writes about the transition the male sexual psyche underwent in the 1900s, referred to as the "sporting man" culture. The prevalence of prostitution in New York City extended from brothels to other public spaces, such as museums. For some individuals, this sexual freedom has led to the creation of pornographic guides and literature. During the 1900s, prostitution also became heavily intertwined with law enforcement and its politics. With the visibility of sex increasing exponentially, some citizens have resorted to vigilantism to combat it. The ideology of taking matters into one's own hands led to the successful reform of prostitution by the Reverend Charles Henry Parkhurst. In the early 1900s, there was a “sexual revolution” in New York City. During this period, sexual acts and desires were not hidden, but were instead opened up... middle of paper... increased, men became more and more involved in the sex industry. From the case of Helen Jewett and Robert P. Robinson a new image of prostitution and a new culture of the sporting man was born. Prostitution was not the exclusive preserve of women, as subcultures of male and homosexual prostitutes existed. In the sexual community, women formed support networks with each other, creating sisterhoods. As the years have passed, sex has become increasingly integrated into popular culture and public space, accessible to all classes of New Yorkers. The police and politicians were often ineffective in dealing with prostitution, and police officers of the time were often paid handsomely by renowned institutions; vigilantism was the result of this inadequate policing. Finally, in the late 1900s, Charles Henry Parkhurst led the most popular campaign against prostitution, which led to the decline of the sex industry..