Mesosociology

Mesosociology is the study of intermediate (meso) social forces and stratification such as income, age, gender, race, ethnicity, organizations and geographically circumscribed communities.

Mesosociology lies between analysis of large-scale macro forces such as the economy or human societies (which is a domain of macrosociology), and everyday human social interactions on a small scale (a territory of microsociology).

Meso-level forces of social control include organizations and communities.

One type is a comprehensive institution, an organization in which people are confined until they can adhere to society's norms, including prisons and mental hospitals.

These provide outlets for behavior that is considered deviant but cannot be eradicated from society, including prostitution.