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Sex workers in Europe are increasingly of nonnational origin. The Schengen cooperation allows internal migration within the European Union, but many migrant sex workers originate from outside the EU. While sex workers are already in precarious positions, nonnationals risk deportation, dependent on their citizenship status, and may have debts to smugglers. Consequently, they may be more likely to work longer hours to increase short-term profits. Using a dataset of sex work advertisements from one Danish website (n = 2,594), we estimate the association between inferred citizenship status and a) advertised hours on shift using ordinary least squares regression, and b) the probability of advertising 24/7 availability using a linear probability model. Compared to Danish sex workers, we find migrants advertise almost twice as many hours on shift and are more likely to advertise 24/7 availability. These results shed light on the inequalities that persist between national and nonnational sex workers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The extent to which commercial sex, particularly sex work, should be regulated is an important and controversial policy conversation in the United States. Despite the salience of religion to informing attitudes about morality and bodily ethics, little is known about how some key dimensions of U.S. religion (e.g., religious fundamentalism and Christian nationalism) influence the public's moral acceptance of prostitution. We investigate this gap using nationally representative survey data (n = 1,219). Fundamentalist beliefs and Christian statism are both associated with lower moral acceptance of prostitution, adjusting for other religious and sociopolitical characteristics. Disaggregated models also revealed differences in the strengths of these associations by sex. Implications for policy and opportunities for future research are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Why do Korean women, who live in one of the most technologically and economically dynamic countries in the world, lag so far behind men in most important aspects of social life? Conventional answers to this question believe that more government intervention is needed, but Korea has followed state feminist policies since democratisation with limited success. This article draws on insights from the field of feminist political economy and the theory of performativity to propose a revised model of state–society interaction that better explains this puzzle. Historically, the South Korean state has oscillated between creating gender inequality for its economic and political nation-building projects, and then seeking to reduce it for the purposes of social reproduction. However, this reverse movement is ‘sticky’ because many non-state actors’ performances of gender inequality are resistant to state feminism, and others are closely associated with national identity. We conduct a plausibility probe of our model by applying it to three key performances of gender in Korea: traditional culture, conscription, and sex work. Our findings suggest the need for more bottom-up activism and campaigns against actors within and beyond the state who continue to resist gender equality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to better understand the worldviews expressed within an online forum community of male heterosexual sex tourists. Whilst virtual all-male groups, collectively known as the “Manosphere,” are increasingly studied, online male sex tourist communities are not. Such gaps can miss the potentially harmful consequences of these platforms. This study applies a Thematic Analysis (TA) to 300 postings and measures the levels of misogyny over 21 years. The findings indicate that expressions of misogyny were more extreme in this forum community than most expressions of misogyny documented in face-to-face interviews with sex tourists. Levels of misogyny (27%) were high and stayed consistent over time. We argue that this sex tourist forum contains hostile misogyny that has not been documented in traditional ethnographic studies of sex tourists, and that has not either been established as a part of the main field of intellectual inquiry into online misogyny, known as the Manosphere. Our experience suggests that digital ethnography can grant researchers new information about stigmatized groups of people who may be difficult to recruit as research participants and that the current body of literature on online misogyny might miss the ethical implications of sex tourist forums. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article analyses the viewpoints of Spanish youth regarding prostitution, sex workers, and their opinions on what the law surrounding sex work should be. Spain is currently in the grip of a great debate, tending to adopt the punishment of sex buyers. To investigate this issue, 3126 young participants aged 16–30 were surveyed through an online questionnaire in December 2020, which consisted of 21 questions. A factor analysis revealed three distinct perceptions of prostitution falling into three categories: 'As a choice' (22.8%), 'as coercive' (27.9%), and 'as economic necessity' (49.3%). Correspondingly, the legal positions on prostitution varied depending on the perceptions of paid sex: viewing prostitution 'as coercive' was associated with the criminalisation of prostitution, while considering sex work 'as a choice' was related to the regulation of prostitution. In conclusion, the young Spaniards surveyed do not consider all those who offer paid sex as victims of trafficking; instead, they differentiate based on the connection between trafficking and the sex industry. These diverse perceptions contribute to policy recommendations aimed at preventing the negative consequences of prostitution, implementing harm reduction measures to safeguard sex workers, and moving beyond dichotomous policies of criminalization and regulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The occurrence of human trafficking is a very harmful and disturbing crime for Kosovo and the countries of the region, which are encountering this criminal issue that seriously attacks human rights. Human trafficking is often associated with organized criminal groups that operate outside the state borders of Kosovo, making the fight against this occurrence much more challenging for the mechanisms that combat this type of crime. This research paper aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of human trafficking in Kosovo, evaluating the contributing factors and assessing the effectiveness of existing legal frameworks. It also offers actionable recommendations for enhancing collaboration among key stakeholders. The method used in this research is a literature review, systematically analyzing academic literature, reports, and relevant documents on human trafficking. The findings indicate that human trafficking severely deteriorates the socio-economic conditions in Kosovo and reinforces organized crime networks. Therefore, close cooperation at both regional and international levels is essential for effectively addressing this criminality, which remains a pressing concern in Kosovo and beyond. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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El presente texto explora la retórica de la prostitución tal y como aparece ligada a la figura de Sócrates en los textos de Platón y Jenofonte, específicamente como analogía de su práctica erótico-pedagógica. Nuestro objetivo consiste en analizar los vínculos que se establecen en estos diálogos entre prostitución, pederastia y pedagogía.

The coronavirus pandemic has had major impacts on sex workers, with notable differences in bargaining power, coercion, and health. Therefore, the aim of this research is to describe the different impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on paid sex workers. For this purpose, we conducted a comparative analysis using questionnaires collected from 605 individuals representing two segments of sex industry: one socio-economically lower (415) and the other middle-income (190). In both cases, a sociological questionnaire was used. In S1, it was conducted in person with intentional sampling, while in S2, it was conducted online using social media. Regarding the results, there were significant differences between the two groups, with the lower segment being more vulnerable and facing worse conditions: more difficulties with their documents, lower level of education, less support network, more clients, more insecurity in the place where they work (streets, industrial estates or roads), younger age of starting prostitution, more coercion or need to start (most reported reasons to start in prostitution were economic need, lack of documentation, family responsibilities and debts), less possibilities of health insurance, worse physical and mental health, more food insecurity, and lower income. The middle sector showed: more autonomy, was less impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic, had been in Spain for longer, often holding a residence permit, having more protection measures, having a higher level of education, having a greater support network, having started prostitution at an older age, and were less likely to have been coerced into it. In conclusion, it is important not to homogenise all people in sex work, as there are different sectors and needs within the sex market in Spain, which require different or more targeted policies and interventions.

This paper explores the moral and social landscape of prostitution in eighteenth-century England, analyzing how prostitutes were perceived and represented in various cultural, economic, and legal contexts. In particular, it focuses on the interplay between moral judgment and social necessity that characterized the public discourse surrounding prostitution during this period. Through an examination of primary sources including Bernard de Mandeville’s satirical work, A Modest Defence of Publick Stews (1724), and William Hogarth’s visual narrative series, A Harlot’s Progress (1732), alongside contemporaneous writings on notable figures like Sally Salisbury, this research investigates the nuanced perceptions of prostitutes as sinners, victims, and survivors. It argues that prostitution in eighteenth-century England was not merely a moral or legal issue but was deeply intertwined with the socioeconomic conditions of the time by highlighting how urbanization, economic necessity, and evolving social attitudes contributed to the visibility and toleration of prostitution. My research concludes that the figure of the prostitute in eighteenth-century England served as a focal point for debates about morality, economy, and the law, revealing a society grappling with changing attitudes in its moral and social order.

This study was designed with the purpose of testing the psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the Attitudes toward Prostitution and Prostitutes Scale through three studies with different samples. The first one explores the test's dimensional structure or constructs validity through confirmatory factor analysis, as well as internal consistency and test-retest reliability. The second one focuses on discriminant and criteria validity. Finally, the third one examines the scale's convergent validity and its sensitivity to detecting changes. The results support two subscales with an optimal index of internal consistency, structural stability over time, and discriminative power between groups of participants. It is, therefore, an adequate tool for adults as well as young people and teenagers, and for detecting changes in the context of intervention or awareness workshops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background For a variety of reasons related to biology, behaviour, and environment, a subset of a population known as female sex workers (FSWs) or female transactional sex workers is at increased risk of health, depression, social stigma and access to timely and quality healthcare when needed. In low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), there was lack of understanding regarding the experiences and healthcare utilisation and behaviours, the health burden among them, their experiences, and how they access health care. Using Anderson’s behavioural model of health service utilisation as a framework, this review aimed to explore the experiences of, and healthcare seeking behaviours of female sex workers in low-and middle-income countries. Methods Six relevant databases such as PubMed, Embase, Global Health, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar were searched for peer-reviewed research articles published between January 1990 and December 2023 that discussed female transactional sex work in low- and middle-income countries. Subject terms such as: low-and middle- incomes, sex workers (female and male), sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in the sex work industry, prostitution, commercial sex, and health-seeking behaviour were used for the databases search. Out of 6,135 articles that were retrieved for the study, 26 met the inclusion criteria. Of the total number of studies, four were reviews, eight were quantitative studies, six were qualitative studies, and two utilised mixed methods. Findings Results from a thematic analysis of studies that combined quantitative and qualitative methods yielded six overarching themes.The study found that women engaged in sex work for different reasons – to fend for themselves (i.e., livelihood), self-employment and others do it for pleasure. However, force sex or unprotected which can lead to sexually transmitted infections, sexual abuse, job insecurity, were critical risks factors in engaging in sex work. These factors make them vulnerable to predators and health risks. It was found that sex workers were aware of the importance of seeking healthcare, and do make the efforts, however, crucial factors such as difficulty accessing healthcare and maltreatment by healthcare providers and social stigma disincentivises FSW health-seeking behaviours. Sexual workers reported discomfort disclosing their occupations because of the stigma and discrimination which further affects their regular health examinations and obtaining medically approved condoms from healthcare facilities. Conclusion Complex challenges rooted in economic vulnerability, social marginalisation, and limited access to healthcare afflict female sex workers in LMICs. The maltreatment and stigma can potentially affect LMICs from achieving using health facility care, with potential implications on achieving the universal health coverage goals. Comprehensive, rights-based strategies that address structural injustices and empower these women to live healthier, more secure lives are necessary to address their special needs.

ABSTRACT The social and legal treatment of prostitution varies between countries. We examined attitudes toward prostitution (ATP) and their susceptibility to persuasion in three countries: Norway, where prostitution is illegal; Spain, where prostitution is not explicitly regulated in the law; and Germany, where prostitution is legal. Participants (total N = 579) read arguments in favor of either legalization or abolition of prostitution or no arguments. Then they reported their ATP, judged the consequences of abolishing prostitution and completed measures of feminism, political orientation and sociosexuality. Results showed that, as hypothesized, ATP scores (1) reflected the countries' legislation, being most positive in Germany and least positive in Norway; (2) were affected by arguments only in Spain, where the legal situation is ambiguous; and (3) were meaningfully correlated with other attitudes across countries. These findings highlight the association of legal frameworks with attitudes, suggesting that national legislation can shape social norms and perceptions of prostitution. Additionally, the varying susceptibility to persuasive messages across different legal contexts underscores the role of legal ambiguity in shaping openness to attitudinal change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At the time of Federation (1901), Kalgoorlie, (Western Australia), and Broken Hill (New South Wales) promoted themselves as civilized and respectable living communities now that mining had become a series of long-term ventures. The local newspaper was a key player in the construction of this self-image. In order to appear respectable, the Kalgoorlie Miner and the Barrier Miner framed the prostitute as Other. This article contributes to the Federation sex trade and news reporting literature by exploring the gatekeeping of prostitution in two major mining communities between 1896 and 1903. It finds that the newspapers used four frames for presenting the prostitution issue: policing and court, moral judgement, creating the desired community, and the role of the local council. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Background: For a variety of reasons related to biology, behaviour, and environment, a subset of a population known as female sex workers (FSWs) or female transactional sex workers is at increased risk of health, depression, social stigma and access to timely and quality healthcare when needed. In low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), there was lack of understanding regarding the experiences and healthcare utilisation and behaviours, the health burden among them, their experiences, and how they access health care. Using Anderson's behavioural model of health service utilisation as a framework, this review aimed to explore the experiences of, and healthcare seeking behaviours of female sex workers in low-and middle-income countries. Methods: Six relevant databases such as PubMed, Embase, Global Health, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar were searched for peer-reviewed research articles published between January 1990 and December 2023 that discussed female transactional sex work in low- and middle-income countries. Subject terms such as: low-and middle- incomes, sex workers (female and male), sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in the sex work industry, prostitution, commercial sex, and health-seeking behaviour were used for the databases search. Out of 6,135 articles that were retrieved for the study, 26 met the inclusion criteria. Of the total number of studies, four were reviews, eight were quantitative studies, six were qualitative studies, and two utilised mixed methods. Findings: Results from a thematic analysis of studies that combined quantitative and qualitative methods yielded six overarching themes.The study found that women engaged in sex work for different reasons – to fend for themselves (i.e., livelihood), self-employment and others do it for pleasure. However, force sex or unprotected which can lead to sexually transmitted infections, sexual abuse, job insecurity, were critical risks factors in engaging in sex work. These factors make them vulnerable to predators and health risks. It was found that sex workers were aware of the importance of seeking healthcare, and do make the efforts, however, crucial factors such as difficulty accessing healthcare and maltreatment by healthcare providers and social stigma disincentivises FSW health-seeking behaviours. Sexual workers reported discomfort disclosing their occupations because of the stigma and discrimination which further affects their regular health examinations and obtaining medically approved condoms from healthcare facilities. Conclusion: Complex challenges rooted in economic vulnerability, social marginalisation, and limited access to healthcare afflict female sex workers in LMICs. The maltreatment and stigma can potentially affect LMICs from achieving using health facility care, with potential implications on achieving the universal health coverage goals. Comprehensive, rights-based strategies that address structural injustices and empower these women to live healthier, more secure lives are necessary to address their special needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the unique relationship between panic, technology, and sexuality using a sex panic framework. Sex panic, a derivative of moral panic theory, focuses on fears related to or because of sexuality or sexual practices. Inextricably tied to emotion, sex panic events are often scripted and based on performativity. In Texas, a sex robot “testing center” attempted to open as a storefront in the suburbs of Houston. Local officials and community leaders condemned the brothel announcement. A critical discourse analysis of sixty news articles and videos, Houston City Council meeting minutes, and the subsequent city ordinances were evaluated to explore the controversy of the ultimately banned brothel. Through this analysis, prevalent discursive themes on the protection of women and children, fears about sex robot users, and concerns over how the Houston community would be viewed were found. Discursive tactics centered on creating panic around issues of rape, dehumanization, and moral standards. This study contributes to the critical scholarship on sex robots and their effects on public discourse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The physical environment and location of brothels has been the focus of significant scholarship, although much of the literature focuses on the exterior of these businesses, leaving the interiors as yet under-examined. In New Zealand, there is a tension between decriminalization’s intention that brothels are treated similarly to other businesses, and the enduring stigma which sex work is subject to. To mitigate stigmatization and public condemnation of their businesses, brothel owners sometimes mimic the aesthetic and branding of more mainstream industries. Drawing on data from media texts and interviews with brothel owners and operators, this article examines how ‘mainstreaming’ narratives of respectability and acceptability are produced in the physical space of brothels, particularly their interior décor and design. Media texts were analysed using a critical discourse analysis approach, and interviews using a Foucauldian discourse analysis model, allowing for an understanding of the interplay between the discursive production of the brothel sector and the physical environment of these businesses. We suggest that brothels’ interiors are used as a way of indexing their class status, and explore how this may be used to communicate ideas about the workers employed there, particularly in relation to existing stigmas about prostitution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is part of a broader investigation on the functioning, management and regulation of illegal markets in Caracas, understanding as such not only those in which prohibited goods are traded, but also, as in the case of street prostitution, those that cannot access legal mechanisms of regulation and conflict resolution. Based on an ethnographic research of more than a year's duration in two contiguous but distinct contexts of street prostitution, one more central and crowded and the other in a more peripheral and hidden street, we compare illicit practices, patterns of violence and, above all, mechanisms of regulation and governance. In the more peripheral plaza, episodes of violence, including sexual violence and aggression among sex workers themselves, are more common, as well as illicit or deviant activities, such as robberies, the sale and consumption of narcotics, and prostitution of adolescents and girls. Regulation relies on coalitions, individual responses or a figure of "patronage" (the "mothers") in which older prostitutes lead and protect groups of young prostitutes in exchange for gifts. In contrast, in the more buoyant plaza, where more centralized and sophisticated control mechanisms are operated by a group of women prostitutes and former prostitutes (with the support of trans prostitutes) and in partnership with the police, violence, conflicts and infractions are significantly less frequent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Apart from polarized feminist theorizing, which is abundant in the literature, much of the scholarship on sex work is atheoretical and based on single-case studies. This paper argues that theorization can be advanced by systematic comparison of multiple settings and types of prostitution at the structural, interactional, and experiential levels. I show that certain structural and interactional characteristics, specific to each sector, can be linked to corresponding patterns in participants' routine or modal experiences and meanings. Drawing on the empirical literature, I show that some of the most important meanings revolve around the degree to which a sector is conducive to rebranding and decommodification by participants, bordering on normalization. In the sociology of deviance, this is known as norm "neutralization" and "deviance disavowal." It is argued that the social organization of one of the sectors is most favorable to destigmatization by the actors involved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the study was to analyze the differences in suffering stressful life events (SLE) among women experiencing homelessness who had or had not been in prostitution. Data were collected from a sample of 135 women experiencing homelessness in Madrid. A total of 81% of the women interviewed had never been in prostitution, while 19% had been in prostitution at some point in their lives. Participants were recruited from shelters, drop-in centers, and public spaces. The information was collected using a structured interview. The results showed that women experiencing homelessness who had been in prostitution suffered a greater number of SLE, both in childhood and adolescence and throughout life. The interviewed who had been in prostitution were between two and nine times more likely to have experienced during their childhood and adolescence violence in their family, as well as to have run away from home, experienced abuse, attempted suicide, and used drugs excessively. Furthermore, during their lifetime, the interviewed who had been in prostitution were between two and four times more likely to suffer from serious physical and mental health issues, excessive alcohol consumption, intimate partner violence, physical violence from others, suicide attempts, police reporting, and unwanted pregnancies. Additionally, they were four to six times more likely to have been sexually assaulted or convicted/imprisoned for a crime, seven times more likely to have been arrested, and a striking 32 times more likely to have used drugs excessively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The demand for prostitution is normalized even in formally egalitarian societies. However, it is one of the fundamental pillars of gender inequality. When its existence is addressed, the causes that lead women to "prostitute themselves" are often studied, but the reasons that lead men to demand prostitution are eluded. Research is essential to delegitimize their solicitation, which is clearly what sustains a prostitution system that exploits and oppresses millions of women and girls around the world. In this study, 12 men who have paid for sex in the autonomous community of La Rioja are interviewed and a content analysis of their speeches is carried out. Male justify their demand with a variety of reasons that hide or circumvent any critical reflection or assumption of responsibility. Nevertheless, studies -including this one- on why men demand prostitution are clear in their conclusions: to exercise power and maintain their privileged position over women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article analyses the perception of prostitution in the Spanish army in the sixteenth century. It shows how many authors and military men perceived prostitution as an essential part of the army, but one that must always be kept under strict control and supervision. Likewise, prostitution was shown as a morally and religiously superior option to concubinage (amancebamiento), and for most authors even preferable to soldiers' marriages. The presence of women involved in prostitution was discussed in the context of the practical needs of the army, religious discourse and the creation of the ideal model of the Catholic soldier. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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In Matteo Garrone's filmography, the choice of locations is always determined by a marked interest in physical reality, approached through an authorial perspective aimed at representing the coordinates of a complex system of human relations and the signs of the exercise of power, in its multiple declinations. In Terra di mezzo (1996) Garrone investigates the Pasolinian space of the Roman suburbs, now populated by Nigerian prostitutes and unemployed Albanians. The filmmaker's gaze here traces fragments of existence in the forms of an excessive, unfinished and oppressive landscape. In this context, the acceleration towards indefiniteness takes on a clear allegorical value, explicitly referring to the condition of precarious impermanence experienced by the protagonists. This article intends to highlight the most significant characteristics of the authorial work on the forms of the natural and human landscape: their selection, the tendency to their allusive and paradigmatic over-signification, the presence, in them, of the lesson of the models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The regulation of surrogacy across Western Europe displays the overwhelming prevalence of a restrictive status quo, with only a few states having moved towards greater permissiveness. However, we know little about the determinants of such regulation from a comparative perspective. This article fills this gap, by mapping the variation in the regulation of surrogacy across Western Europe and determining whether the explanations offered by the morality politics literature to the attendant variation in the regulation of abortion, prostitution and assisted reproductive technologies also explain it, or, rather, surrogacy policy has its own determinants. It concludes that, while the factors that explain the variation in the permissiveness of the regulation of abortion, prostitution and assisted reproduction technologies across Western Europe also apply to surrogacy, their specific combination in the latter is unlike in any of the former. Hence, surrogacy policy has its own determinants, which require further research. In doing so, the article adds to the emerging comparative analysis of surrogacy policies across Western Europe from a morality politics perspective, which is unprecedented, and, in turn, to the literature on morality politics, by confronting it to an issue that questions several of its established conclusions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Having a noble livelihood is one of the majority's wishes, but there are souls stuck in the mud and poverty. This includes paid women who are willing to take risks and face the scorn of others just to sell sexual services in exchange for money. This qualitative research gave a voice to women in the field of prostitution to reveal their perspective and psychological struggle in their occupation. The data in this research came from interviews with female sex workers from Metro Manila. The obtained information was analyzed through thematic analysis. Based on the research results, the main themes were developed and extended: poverty, clinging to the knife, life's blows, living despite the humiliation, faith, and new hope. Despite the negative connotations, it can be seen that hope has sprouted in their feelings. There is hope that, in time, they will be able to get out of their misery. Apart from this, it is also undeniable that their faith and prayer in the Above remained with them even though life with a heavy burden was associated with it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The intersection of religious beliefs and sex work has long been a subject of debate, with varying perspectives on the moral, social, and legal implications. This qualitative systematic review aimed to review the nuanced relationship between religious beliefs and sex work by synthesizing the existing literature and providing insights into the diverse perspectives and experiences. The rationale for this research is to understand how religious beliefs influence societal attitudes, policies, and the experiences of sex workers in order to inform more effective and culturally sensitive interventions and support mechanisms. This review focused on articles pertaining to female-identified sex workers, as the gendered discussion happens heavily in religious interpretations and in current anti-trafficking legislation, which now genders men as customers and not as sex workers. Five stages of systematic review were followed in this review. The following peer-reviewed electronic databases from 2000 to 2023 were utilized: Google Scholar, Scopus database, Science Direct, and PubMed. The search strategy focused on identifying studies that investigated the impact of religious beliefs on various aspects of sex work, including attitudes towards sex work within religious communities and the influence of religious teachings on the behavior and practices of sex workers. Inclusion criteria were defined based on population, exposure, study design, and outcomes, while exclusion criteria were established to ensure the relevance and rigor of the included studies. Only 25 relevant studies resulted from this research. Four themes emerged from this study: (1) religious attitudes towards sex work; (2) experiences of sex workers, including stigmatization and marginalization within religious contexts; (3) social control; and (4) empowerment and advocacy. The relationship between religious beliefs and sex work is complex and multifaceted, influenced by cultural, social, and historical factors. Recognizing and understanding these perspectives is essential for developing more inclusive and effective interventions and policies that address the needs and rights of sex workers within the context of their religious beliefs and communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Across the twentieth century, police were the enforcers of public space, determining which women would be targeted as problems to solve. Sexual policing—the targeting and legal control of people's bodies and their presumed sexual activities—was considered a marginal and degraded use of public resources, maligned by officers and residents alike. And yet, amid the recurring crises of legitimacy for police during the scandalous enforcement of Prohibition and the social uprisings of the 1960s, the contested practice of sexual policing was also central to the legitimization and legalization of police power. The Streets Belong to Us is a spatial history of the development of urban police regimes as embattled authorities fought to seize and consolidate power. But embedded in that work is an argument that the formation of police power—like the formation of cities themselves—cannot be understood without accounting for gender and the interlocking hierarchies of race, class, and sexuality that make gender meaningful. Focusing on sexual policing, the most historically gendered arena of law enforcement, from Prohibition in segregated Jim Crow to the rise of broken windows policing in the gentrifying 1980s, I argue that police power and the modern city were built on women's bodies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anne Gray Fischer's The Streets Belong to Us makes an important contribution to the growing historiography of post-1970's feminism in the United States. Her final chapter deftly explores the rise of what she calls "dominance feminists" who allied with police departments in their campaigns against commercial sex. However, this alliance overlooked the realities of on-the-ground policing and exacerbated the marginalization of Black women. Fischer's analysis underscores the importance of centering Black women's experiences and engaging with communities impacted by police harassment to inform more inclusive and effective feminist strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In her 2002 book Taboo: The Hidden Culture of Red Light Area, Fouzia Saeed explains how patriarchal norms in Pakistani society rigidly categorise women into 'pure' and 'polluted', shaping perceptions of prostitution and human trafficking. This article argues that patriarchy has its roots in materiality, and plays an indispensable role in pushing many women into the dreadful practice of prostitution or trafficking for sexual slavery through the structural and institutional flaws threaded within Pakistani culture. Women in Pakistan yet also have internalised the deep-rooted patriarchal ideologies and sexism that lead to a holistic understanding of what this patriarchal culture entails. Focusing on Heera Mandi - Lahore's traditional red light district as depicted in Saeed's ethnographic book, this textual cum descriptive analysis contributes to unveil the dilemmas of women engaged in prostitution who are constantly under threat from patriarchy and other institutions. While unfolding men formulated cultural norms through radical feminist analysis of Taboo, this article concludes that the patriarchal metamorphosing of women into valueless commodities perpetuates the practice of prostitution and trafficking in Heera Mandi. The study also suggests that, to eliminate female inferiority, feminist activism in Pakistan requires measures to restructure patriarchy together with consciousness-raising and political education of women in all respects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the shifting lines between ethics and law in the policing and punishment of prostitution in nineteenth-century Tehran. It begins by exploring Tehran's urban policing and legal institutions before examining how illicit sexual acts were defined alternatively as sins or crimes, depending on the relative publicness of the act, in prescriptive and legal texts. It then turns to how this played out in practice by analyzing a first-hand account of a private party and a rare testimonial document signed by neighborhood residents complaining about a pimping and procurement ring in their midst. Prostitutes and pimps regularly evaded penal sanction through close contacts with the police, which prompted an array of government strategies to address prostitution. Finally, the article ends by discussing known cases of punishment for prostitution and pimping in Tehran, including two Tehrani prostitutes whose crimes drew the attention of Nāṣir al-Dīn Shāh. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Copyright of Revista de Direitos Fundamentais & Democracia is the property of Revista de Direitos Fundamentais & Democracia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: Extreme violence and psychological abuse have been extensively documented and are pervasive in prostitution. Survivors of prostitution report high levels of posttraumatic stress disorder, dissociation, depression, and self-loathing. These are the same sequelae reported by torture survivors.Objective: Severe forms of violence have been categorized as torture by experts. The authors note that torture is commonly suffered during prostitution and should be appropriately named.Method: Using standardized measures and including a new measure of torture, we interviewed 45 women in the United States about their torture experiences in prostitution and their symptoms of PTSD, dissociation, childhood trauma, health status and somatic symptoms. The interviewees had exited prostitution and were in supportive programmes.Results: Formerly prostituted interviewees reported acts of physical, sexual, and psychological torture, including strangulation, rape, beatings, restriction of movement, denial of privacy, sleep, or food, and being forced to witness the torture of others. The 45 women had high levels of PTSD and dissociation. They endorsed needs for individual counselling, substance abuse treatment, and other medical care.Conclusions: A recognition of the physical, sexual, and psychological torture experienced in prostitution would strengthen psychological and medical interventions for survivors. Naming specific acts of prostitution as torture will reduce the survivor’s shame and self-blame. Holistic treatment includes medical and psychological interventions and peer support, as seen in torture rehabilitation programmes for survivors of state-sponsored torture. This research supports the perspective that private or non-state-sponsored torture against women and marginalized populations should be clinically and legally understood in the same way as state-sponsored torture.

The present study explored how the COVID-19 pandemic affected the risk of sex trafficking among adolescents in care through the lens of 25 child welfare workers in 2021. Results from [...]

This paper uses the revision process of Colorado's statewide human trafficking risk assessment tool, predominantly used in child welfare, as a case example of multisector and cross-jurisdictional collaboration. The Connecting [...]

State child welfare agencies are responsible for identifying and serving youth who have been victimized through human trafficking and have made multiple rapid changes in recent years to implement screening [...]

This scoping review identified existing evidence on familial sex trafficking of minors in the United States and analyzed the evidence to guide future interventions. Comprehensive searches across six databases found [...]

Children with learning disabilities have vulnerabilities that place them at a higher risk for childhood adversity, including labor and sex trafficking. Nonetheless, building secure attachments within a healthy family system [...]

African American youth are overrepresented in the juvenile justice and child welfare systems. These children are often labeled as 'crossover youth' given their involvement with both systems. African American crossover [...]

Children and youth are populations who are at high risk for human trafficking. While any individual can be exploited through human trafficking, traffickers may target those they see as most [...]

Nationwide efforts to enhance services for adolescents experiencing commercial sexual exploitation (CSE) in the judicial system have led to the emergence of specialty courts, including human trafficking and girls' courts. Given that prior research has documented competing stances on the effectiveness of specialty courts for CSE-impacted populations, we conducted a systematic review of the literature to identify key characteristics of programming, profiles of adolescents served, and effectiveness of these courts. To identify relevant research and information, we systematically searched scholarly databases and information sources, conducted reference harvesting, and forwarded citation chaining. Articles presenting primary data with quantitative, qualitative, or mixed methodologies or programmatic descriptions of specialty courts serving adolescents at risk or with confirmed histories of CSE that were published after 2004 were included. We identified 39 articles on 21 specialty courts serving adolescents at risk or with confirmed histories of CSE, including seven specialty courts with evaluation or outcome data. Across specialty courts, adolescents benefited from an increase in linkage to specialized services, improved residential placement stability, and reduction in recidivism-measured by new criminal charges. Specialty court participation was also associated with improved educational outcomes and decreased instances of running away. A lack of empirical data, specifically of evaluation studies, emerged as a weakness in the literature. Still, findings support that specialty courts can be an integral judicial system response to CSE. Multidisciplinary collaboration can help target and respond to the multifaceted needs of adolescents, encourage healthy behaviors, and promote their overall wellness.