Prostitution: Choice or Necessity - Assignment Example

Prostitution: Choice or Necessity? This literature review considers the general perception of prostitutes as victims of abuse who are involved in a dangerous industry as they have little to no choice. The author argues that prostitution is a diverse industry that involves both males and females as workers, many of whom are part of the industry by their own choice rather than because of necessity or coercion. Examinations of prostitution need to consider the whole industry and the variations within it, rather than following general perceptions that are often not true. Prostitution is an industry that has traditionally been considered to be ‘wrong’ or ‘immoral’ and is illegal in many places throughout the world. Additionally, it is perceived to be a dangerous form of work, where prostitutes experience high levels of abuse and violence. This review focuses on the differences between the perception of prostitution and its reality, particularly in terms of legislation, victimization and the role of males. The author argues that the prostitution industry is not as clear-cut as it appears to be, and that people within the industry do not always perceive themselves as victims. Cobbina and Oselin’s (2011) study qualitatively examined results from 40 interviews with prostitutes, which focused on the age of entry, experiences and length of time in the prostitution trade. The authors hoped to determine what effect age of entry into the sex industry had on the length of time that individuals stayed in the industry, as well as the reason that they originally became involved. They found half of the sample had entered prostitution prior to the age of 19 and the other half had entered later in their lifetime. The authors found a significant difference between the two age groups. Those that entered prostitution at a young age identified with themes of prostitution being normal, or prostitution as a method of controlling their sexuality. In contrast, those that entered prostitution later primarily did so as they had no alternative economic way of surviving, or needed the income to sustain a drug addiction. Additionally, woman that entered prostitution early were likely to be involved in the industry for a significantly longer period of time than those who entered as adults. Although the four pathways into prostitution that the authors identified are not distinct from one another, their research gives substantial information about the factors that drive women to be involved in this industry. Additionally, their research shows that females do not always become prostitutes because of need or abuse. In some cases, entry into prostitution is a conscious desire by individuals who seek independence or greater control over their lives. In the second article examined, Scott (2011) argues against the perception that power has acted to separate prostitutes from society, resulting in them being considered social outcasts. Instead he considers that power has led to the inclusion of prostitutes as part of society, and a focus on protecting them. In general, prostitution is considered to be a social problem and many people argue that aspects of this industry need to be fixed. However, the definition of what exactly is wrong with prostitution varies depending on the type of literature and the focus of the research. For example, historical considerations of prostitution tend to focus on the moral and ethical dilemmas that prostitution raises. Scott’s article is a detailed discussion on the laws and policies surrounding prostitution, both in countries where it is illegal and where prostitution has been decriminalized. He shows that current approaches to prostitution do not focus on punishment; rather, they are interested in protecting those who are involved in prostitution. This can be seen through policies such as health interventions that focus on lowering the prevalence of sexually-transmitted infections in sex workers (Scott, 2011). Research tends to focus on prostitution as a dangerous industry, however, O’Doherty’s (2011) paper examines whether this is truly the case. The author considers prostitutes in Vancouver, attempting to determine whether off-street workers experience the same level of victimization that street workers within the area do. The research determined that although victimization did occur in the off-street sex worker industry, this was significantly lower that rates in street workers. This study shows that it is important not to generalize the prostitution industry based on the experiences of street workers. A substantial proportion of prostitutes work from their own homes, in massage parlors or as escorts. People within the off-street industry have a greater ability to protect themselves, and often have more control over what clients they work with. For example, many workers in escort agencies check-in with someone at the agency to inform them that everything is okay, and are able to use a code word if they are having any problems with the client. However, although prostitution is generally considered to be a female industry and men are perceived to be perpetrators that make prostitution a viable method of work, male prostitutes also exist (Gaffney, 2007). In his paper, Gaffney (2007) examines the way that the focus on males as perpetrators affects men that sell their bodies within the prostitution industry, and the lack of guidelines to protect this group. Gaffney argues that policy documents that are currently being promoted to decrease levels of prostitution almost exclusively consider female prostitutes and do not consider any differences between the two genders. Additionally, policies primarily focus on street prostitution, while a significant amount of prostitution, especially in males, occurs off the streets. The studies examined here show that prostitution does not occur as it is generally perceived. Rather than being a highly dangerous industry that abused young women find themselves in without choice, many people, both males and females are involved in prostitution by choice, desiring the control over their bodies, or considering it to be a good source of income for something they take pleasure in (Gaffney 2007 and Cobbina & Oselin 2011). Furthermore, the industry is not as dangerous as it is perceived to be, and prostitutes that are involved in off-street sex work are able to use many safety precautions to protect themselves (O’Doherty, 2011). Finally, prostitution is gradually becoming more accepted in society, with government interventions focusing strongly on protection rather than persecution of prostitutes, and some territories decriminalizing the activity entirely (Scott, 2011). Consequently, it is important that discussions about prostitution consider the industry as a while, rather than following common assumptions about sex workers, that are often not true, and do not represent the true situation for people who work on, and off, the streets. References Cobbina, J.E., & Oselin, S.S. (2011). It’s not only for the money: an analysis of adolescent versus adult entry into street prostitution. Sociological Inquiry, 81(3), 310-332. Gaffney, J. (2007). A co-ordinated prostitution strategy and response to Paying the price – but what about the men? Safer Communities, 6(1), 27-33. O’Doherty, T. (2011). Victimization in off-street sex industry work. Violence Against Women, 17(7),944-963. Scott, J. (2011). Governing prostitution, differentiating the bad from the bad. Current Issues in Criminal Justice, 23(1), 53-72. Read More