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A Study of Structural Violence in the Sex Industry – the perspective from workers

A Study of Structural Violence in the Sex Industry – the perspective from workers. Ya-Li Hung, Senior Specialist R&D Department, Garden of Hope Foundation (GOH) 2012/7/11. Research Background. GOH has 24 years of experience in the prevention and protection of child prostitution.

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A Study of Structural Violence in the Sex Industry – the perspective from workers

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  1. A Study of Structural Violence in the Sex Industry – the perspective from workers Ya-Li Hung, Senior Specialist R&D Department, Garden of Hope Foundation (GOH) 2012/7/11

  2. Research Background • GOH has 24 years of experience in the prevention and protection of child prostitution. • Child prostitution is a challenge of the social structure not a problem of individuals or families. • Only to provide individual and family services have been not enough to solve the problem.

  3. Qualitative Research Design • Method: Focus Group • Duration: April to October, 2011 • Participants: • Total participants: 16 people • Average years of service: 7.9 years • Including: • Social workers, life counselors, and staff who have worked with prostituted children and youth (from GOH) • Workers who provide services for adult sex workers (from other organizations)

  4. Findings

  5. Family, Education & Health • Complicated issues in family of origin • physical or mental abuse, incest, poverty, complicated and contradictory family relationships • Excluded by the formal school system • drop out, negative interpersonal relationships, under-achieve or no interest in schoolwork • Health Risks & Harm • sexually transmitted diseases(STDs),unexpected pregnancy, substance abuse (drugs, alcohols), low self-esteem, self-injury, suicide

  6. Finance, Personal relationship & Labor Market • Financial hardship & Traps －Become the bread-winner in family, costs needed to live independently, risk of usury or debt • Dilemma of Love, Marriage and a Family of Her Own －Financially motivated relationships, difficulties to get married, marriage breakdown • Difficulties in the Labor Market －Lack of human capital, prostitution is the only option

  7. Case Story • The 17-year-old girl • Poor family • Running away from home • Dropped out of school • No money to start prostitution • Unexpected pregnancy • Need more money to take care of children • Forced to stay in the sex industry

  8. Sex Industry is a StructureViolence • Young girls who engage in prostitution, do not do it on their own initiative or voluntarily. • Numerous structural factors effect them. • They are victims of Structure Violence.

  9. Recommendations • Focus on the structure of oppression as well as individuals/families. • Recognize the structure of oppression, to provide more suitable intervention plans • Combine casework service with advocacy • The government should try to reform the social structures that oppress girls

  10. Reflections and Suggestions • Personal factors still exist, but the social structural factors should still be taken seriously. • The influence of the porn industry on young girls could be a follow-up research theme. • Restrictions on the sex industry can reduce its ability to entrap and oppress girls.

  11. Thanks for listening!

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