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"The Prostitution Problem": Claims, Evidence, and Policy Outcomes
Cecilia Benoit1, Michaela Smith2, Mikael Jansson2
1Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research, University of Victoria, 2300 McKenzie Ave., Victoria, BC, V8N 5M8, Canada. cbenoit@uvic.ca.
Archives of Sexual Behavior
|December 1, 2018
Summary
Prostitution is viewed as a social problem, with two main perspectives: gender inequality or exploited labor. Evidence supports the exploited labor view, advocating for policies that reduce intersecting social inequalities for sex workers.
Area of Science:
- Sociology
- Criminology
- Public Policy
Background:
- Prostitution is a global social issue with no clear consensus on solutions.
- Two primary academic perspectives exist: prostitution as gendered exploitation versus exploited labor within neoliberal societies.
Purpose of the Study:
- Examine evidence for each perspective on prostitution and inequality.
- Outline policy responses linked to each perspective.
- Evaluate policy effectiveness in reducing sex worker social exclusion.
Main Methods:
- Literature review and analysis of academic viewpoints.
- Examination of empirical evidence supporting or refuting each perspective.
- Comparative analysis of policy outcomes.
Main Results:
- Global trend favors policies based on gendered exploitation, often repressive.
- Empirical evidence more strongly supports the exploited labor perspective.
- Integrative policies addressing intersecting inequalities are more effective.
Conclusions:
- The exploited labor framework offers a more evidence-based approach to prostitution.
- Policies should focus on reducing social inequalities faced by sex workers.
- Further comparative research on the sex sector and precarious work is needed.