Chapter 7, Sex Trade Flashcards
Systems of prostitution
Any industry in which women’s, men’s, or children’s, bodies are bought, sold, or traded for sexual use
Prostitution
The sale of sexual services (of oneself or another) for money or goods, without emotional attachment
Majority (80-90%) of sex trade workers are what sex?
Women
How many people are estimated to be trafficked for sex trade world wide?
1 million, mostly women
Third largest money making enterprise in the world?
Human flesh
UN estimates this many people are trafficked into Canada and the US every year.
16,000 into Canada, 50,000 into the US
How many women trafficked globally are minors? Estimated by UNICEF
Almost 1 out of 3, many under the age of 13
Trafficking
Recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring, or receipt of persons, by means of the threat or use of force or other forms of coercion, abduction, fraud, deception, abuse of power/position, receiving of payments/benefits, for the purpose of exploitation
First tier of sex work, traditional tier
Women exploited by networks of pimps and organized crime gangs
Second tier of sex work
Establishment of brothels, serving global sex tourism, travelling soldiers, businessmen etc
Illegal in Canada, activities related to sex trade
Communication in a public place for the purposes of buying or selling sexual services, procuring/soliciting a person to exchange sexual services for money, living of the avails, being involved in a common bawdy house, providing direction to or transporting someone to a common bawdy house, purchasing sexual services from someone under the age of 18
How many Canadians view prostitution as immoral? 2006
68%, more women than men said yes
5 Tiers of Prostitution
- Top Tier, escorts, call girls and boys, higher fees and more formal education than other tiers
- Hustlers, strippers, table dancers, etc, engage in prostitution in the side
- House girls; wine who work in brothels, aka house of prostitution, run by a pimp/madam
- Street walkers; publicly solicit customers, charge by the trick, significantly more at risk than indoor workers
- Women addicted to drugs, engage in sex for drugs
70-90 sex trade workers are?
A. Men
B. women
Women
Most people become prostitutes before what age?
18
The average age of entry into prostitution in BC? 1996 stat
14, youngest can start at 8-9
What percent of arc trade workers are under 18? 1999
10-12%
Why people enter the sex trade?
They face barriers to mainstream employment,
Persons involved in the sex trade represent
Persons that face barriers to mainstream employment, are more likely to belong to discriminated identities, and come from current and historical backgrounds of economic and social hardship
Average age of a Canadian Prostitute
17-24
Describe the average ‘John’
mid-20s to mid-40s, married, White, gainfully employed
Reasons for seeking out a prostitute
Loneliness, sexual problems at home, desire for uncomplicated sex or specific sexual acts, a strong male sex drive
SF view on Prostitution
a type pf deviance that helps clarify social norms and helps society maintain social control (encourage conformity, discourage deviance)
SF: Functions of Prostitution
- provides impersonal sexual gratification w/o strings
- a sexual outlet for those who can’t find a conventional relationship
- allows people to engage in new sexual practices, ex. BDSM
- protects the family as a social institution, by discriminating b/w good and bad marriage partners
- benefits the economy
