The aim of this study was to identify and analyze the dominating discourse in the preliminary work of the Sex Purchase Act. In order to achieve the aim of this study we selected preliminary work of the Sex Purchase Act that was produced between 1977 and 1999. The selection is based on the fact that prostitution began to be recognized as a social problem and a gender equality issue between men and women in society. The ongoing debate during the chosen years resulted in the Sex Purchase Act, which was passed in 1999. By using discourse analysis as a methodological and theoretical approach, we have empirically studied and theoretically analyzed the dominating discourse in the preliminary work of the Sex Purchase Act. This study shows that the dominating discourse in the preliminary work is based on a perception that prostitution reflects violence against women, which prevents women and men from becoming equal in society. The dominating discourse in the preliminary work is characterized by a heteronormative standard and has influences that can be recognized as feminist ideology. The content in the dominating discourse is produced by people with high social status, which gives sex buyers and sex workers limited influence on how their categories are presented in the preliminary work.

The purpose of the essay has been, to some extent, to show on any deficiencies in the law against sexual services as well as to stress the importance of having a continued debate and discussion about prostitution and to define what is needed in order to meet the original expectations of the law. The conclusion that the law against sexual services does not meet the expectations has been based on the outcome of the analysis made in this essay. The reason why the Swedish law against selling sexual services does not work is based on four areas; lack of resources within the police force, too few convictions against sex buyers, preventional social actions and political legitimacy.  The essay refers to different point of views of the prostitution issue as well as different research studies, articles and public debates. The method which this essay has been based on is a case study of the implementation of the Swedish law against selling sexual services as well as an evaluation analysis.