Women engaged in street prostitution are among the most vulnerable populations, due to the conditions they work in, their often disadvantaged backgrounds, and their limited choices and agency. In order to surmount the multiple barriers that they encounter when trying to exit prostitution, both at the structural and the individual level, women need holistic support that addresses their diverse needs (Hester & Westmarland, 2004). Extant theoretical frameworks of exiting prostitution failed to incorporate this important element of support into the exiting process. Some of these frameworks are based on mixed samples of women in indoor and street prostitution, despite their different situations and needs. Furthermore, while researchers generally agree on the need for wrap-around holistic support of a range of services, it has not been sufficiently explored, neither in depth nor systematically. Questions remain as to what support looks like, what is its influence, and what is the best timing for offering support to women exiting street prostitution. This study set out to better understand the patterns of exiting street prostitution, to explore the role of support in facilitating successful and long-term disengagement from prostitution, and to determine the more effective time to offer support in the exiting process. The study employed a mixed-method design combining qualitative interviews with an Agent-Based Model (ABM), an innovative computerized simulation tool that has never been applied to street prostitution. In-depth interviews with 29 women from five recovery programs for women with substance abuse disorder who have exited prostitution were analyzed in ATLAS.ti to provide thorough responses to the research questions about support and helped refine the ABM. The ABM was designed based on the theoretical framework offered by Baker, Dalla, and Williamson (2010), enhanced by support and some additional elements incorporated into this framework. This framework conceptualizes exiting as a staged process, starting when women are immersed in prostitution, moving on to the Awareness stage, then to Deliberate Planning, then to Initial Exit and at last to the Final Exit stage. A simplified structure of the stages was applied in the ABM, whereby virtual agents representing women immersed in street prostitution made a series of decision to determine whether they eventually exited prostitution, first to the initial exit stage and later to the final exit stage. The ABM model was a computerized representation of a 10-year virtual longitudinal study, during which a support intervention was offered, first consistently to all agents and then in a second model only to agents who enter the Initial Exit stage. Two more interventions, suggested by the women’s narratives, were tested to determine the influence of spirituality on exiting and the impact of offering women more support when they were ready to exit. street prostitution. The qualitative findings of the study indicated the importance of peers over professionals as facilitators of women’s exiting journeys. Peers provided women with hope and a nonjudgmental understanding of women’s experiences in prostitution; helped alleviate guilt and shame by normalizing these experiences; and allayed women’s loneliness. Another important source of support for women was discovering their spirituality. Women often spoke of God in similar terms to their peers, as an entity that offers knowledge, love and experience. The qualitative findings informed the operationalization of several variables in the ABM and contributed a new variable, Spirituality, to the model. Another important qualitative finding was the importance of offering support at the moment women were ready to exit, which resulted in an interaction between women’s intention to exit and support in the ABM. Additional qualitative findings highlighted the importance of treating both substance abuse and prostitution to unravel the prostitution-drugs nexus in order to achieve a successful exit. Women described their relapse into drugs, which almost always preceded a return to prostitution, as a gradual internal process of a growing desire to use drugs which culminated in an opportunity to use drugs. Such a process mirrored their readiness to exit– an internal process of despair which ended with reaching out for support, or a “hook for change” (Giordano et al., 2002). However, while women were fully aware of both the moment of relapse and the moment of readiness to exit and could easily identify what had led to their relapse, the elements that led to being ready to exit remained nebulous. More research is warranted on this issue. The quantitative findings clearly demonstrated that once virtual women received support in the exiting process, more of them exited, their exit was more permanent (in other words, more of them moved from the Initial to the Final Exit stage and stayed there), and they exited earlier in the process. The more support we offered, the more these findings were pronounced. The best model fit to the data was the one including all support types– continuous support, additional support for the Initial Exit stage, spirituality, and the interaction between readiness and support. While the model without support was characterized by oscillating exiting trajectories regardless of the final outcome, offering support helped smooth the curve and prevented the back and forth movement that characterized women’s journeys in and out of prostitution, both in the quantitative and the qualitative data. This research elaborates the theoretical foundation of the process of exiting prostitution, and specifically, the impact of support, and what support means, in the exiting process. The findings of this study have important implications for service providers and policy makers in deciding on how much, when, and what type of support to offer women who are exiting street prostitution—for example, incorporating peer support in programs that assist women. The quantitative inquiry revealed the impact and benefits of offering support in the exiting process; the qualitative inquiry revealed the multidimensional nature this support. The ABM may be further applied to other exiting processes in related fields, such as recovery from substance abuse. The mixed-method design combining ABM with qualitative interviews should serve as a model to study vulnerable populations with simulation tools. / Criminal Justice

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In the relatively sparse field of economics of prostitution, studies have in recent years investigated the relationship between prostitution legislation and the presence of sex trafficking. This study investigates the issue further by using both a cross country model with time fixed effects and a country fixed effect model to estimate the effect on the amount of sex trafficking of changing legislation to the so-called Nordic Model, something no other known study has managed to do. In contrast to what previous research has estimated, this thesis finds no significant effect on sex trafficking from changing legislation to the Nordic Model. The obvious difficulties of presenting reliable data on an illegal activity such as sex trafficking and the fact that few countries have changed their legislation to the Nordic Model are likely reasons to the insignificant results and cautions against a causal interpretation.

Denna uppsats behandlar det relativt nya begreppet sexuellt självskadebeteende. I studien presenteras tidigare forskning som relaterar till bl.a. självskadebeteende generellt och riskbeteende hos unga. Sex intervjuer har utförts med dels specialister inom sexologisk problematik samt med kuratorer. Studien ämnade tittade närmare på definitioner av sexuellt självskadebeteende, samt vilka värderingar kring kön och god respektive destruktiv sexualitet de förmedlar. Det insamlade materialet har tematiserats och analyserats med hjälp av queerteori och sexologisk teori. I vårt resultat identifierade vi åtta potentiella kriterier för sexuellt självskadebeteende, varav några belyste ex. funktionen av sex som ångestdämpare och degradering av sig själv. Våra informanter förmedlade en viss ambivalens vad gäller hur god respektive destruktiv sexualitet tas i uttryck. Studien kunde även identifiera ett osynliggörande av pojkars utsatthet vad gäller bl.a försäljning av sexuella tjänster. Resultatet visade vidare att det som gör sexuellt självskadebeteende unikt är att individen lämnar bort kontrollen till andra människor, samt att individen i behandlingssammanhang inte bör uppmuntras att avstå från sex. Slutsatsen belyser vikten av att låta den unge själv vara problemformulerare, samt efterfrågar mer forskning på området och samtal kring hur behandlare på bästa sätt kan stötta unga i deras sexuella utveckling. / This thesis discusses the relatively new concept of sexual self-harm. The study presents earlier research that relate to self-harm in general and risk behavior among youth. Six interviews were conducted with both specialists in sexological problems and with counselors. The study aimed to look closely at the definitions of sexual self-harm, and the values surrounding gender and good versus destructive sexuality that they convey. The material was thematized and analyzed using queer theory and sexological theory. In our results we identified eight potential criteria for sexual self-harm, some of which highlighted the function of using sex in order to handle anxiety and as degradation of oneself. Our informants conveyed a certain ambivalence regarding how good versus destructive sexuality is expressed. The study could also identify an invisibility of boys' vulnerability regarding selling sexual services. The results further showed that what makes sexual self-harm unique is that the individual hands over power over him-or-herself to other people, and that the individual in the treatment context shouldn’t be encouraged to abstain completely from sex. The conclusion marks the importance of allowing the young person to formulate his or her problem. More research in this area is needed and discussions should be held on how the field of social work can best support young people in their sexual development.

This is a qualitative study with a descriptive approach. The main purpose with this study is to examine the view of prostitution and sex trade among Social worker students at Malmö Högskola.Our research questions are; To which extension and consideration is the view of male and female prostitutes divided? Is the view of the male and female sex buyer different among the students? How do the students explain and understand male and female prostitution? How do the students explain and understand the male and female sex buyer? To collect data and to be able to find out the students views and thoughts about the phenomenon we used focus groups with four to six students in each group. To categorize the material we used four topics; explanation/understanding models, the individuals behind the phenomenon, love/sex and intimacy, and the society’s responsibility. We analysed the discussions and the result of the focus groups with two main perspectives. The first perspective used in this study is structuralism and the second focuses on the individual. The conclusion of this study is that prostitution is always considered as something negative and self destructive despite of the gender. The students divide both female and male sex buyers into two groups, the rich and successful and the social outcast, but there are different explanation models for female and male sex buyers.

Föreliggande studie bygger på en kvalitativ forskningsmetod som har till syfte att studera hur personal inom verksamheter med fokus på prostitution upplever socialarbetares kunskapergällande kvinnor i prostitution. Samt hur prostitution bland kvinnor kan uppmärksammas i högre utsträckning i socialt arbete. Under studiens genomförande har sex semi-strukturerade intervjuer genomförts med socialarbetare inom olika verksamheter med fokus på prostitution. För att ge en bakgrundsförståelse kring prostitution har tidigare forskning inhämtats genom databassökningar i primo. I studien beskrivs även socialkonstruktivism samt det utvecklingsekologiska perspektivet. Detta för att kunna analysera det inhämtade resultatet samt finna kopplingar mellan befintliga studier och denna studies resultat. Studiens resultat visar på att personal inom verksamheter med fokus på prostitution upplever att det generellt finns en avsaknad av kunskap gällande sex mot ersättning hos socialarbetare. Detta påvisas genom att det finns brister i bemötandet och identifiering av utsatta kvinnor. Främst handlar det om att det för närvarande inte finns nationella riktlinjer för hur arbetet med denna målgrupp bedrivs. / The present study is based on a qualitative research method that aims to study how staff in different organizations with focus on prostitution and their experience of social workers knowledge regarding women in prostitution. The study examines also how prostitution among women can be noticed to a higher extent. During the study, six semi-structured interviews were carried out with a focus on social workers in different organisations and their experiences. The study was based on previous research to present pre-understanding on the theme prostitution amongst women. The collected material has been obtained through databases in in primo. In this study two theories social constructivist perspective and theecology of human development are presented. These theories have been used to create an indepth analysis of the subject of prostitution and also to apply theories to participants experiences. The results show that there is a lack of knowledge regarding sex for compensation among social workers. This is demonstrated by the lack of treatment and identification of vulnerable women. Furthermore, are there no national guidelines for how working with target group is conducted.

Nineteenth-century America witnessed a period of tremendous growth and change as cities flourished, immigration swelled, and industrialization spread. This setting allowed prostitution to thrive and professionalize, and the visibility of such “immoral” activity required Americans to seek a new understanding of morality. Current literature commonly considers prostitution as immediately declared a “social evil” or briefly mentions why Americans assigned it such a role. While correct that it eventually did become a “social evil,” the evolution of discourse relating to prostitution is a bit more complex. This thesis provides a survey of this evolution set against the changing American understanding of science and morality in the nineteenth century. By tracing the course of American thought on prostitution from necessary to social evil, this thesis contributes to a growing understanding of a marginalized group of people and America’s view of national morality.

Studien handlar om kvinnors erfarenheter av prostitution. Syftet med studien är att öka förståelsen för hur psykisk ohälsa kan ta sig uttryck i prostituerade kvinnors berättelser och hur detta kan förstås i förhållande till hur kvinnorna konstruerar verkligheten. Studien syftar även till att öka förståelsen för hur kvinnorna hanterar prostitutionen och den psykiska ohälsan. Studien baseras på biografier där kvinnorna med erfarenhet av prostitution beskriver sin psykiska ohälsa och strategier för att hantera den psykiska ohälsan. Med utgångspunkt i detta material har en tematisk analys genomfört, vilket resulterat i olika teman.  I resultatet framkommer fem teman; Smuts och skam, Självhat och skuld, Tomhet och det livlösa, Den ständiga smärtan och Hantering av upplevelser och känslor. Under första temat berörs upplevelsen av att vara smutsig och att stämplas som smutsig samt skamkänslor. Under andra temat behandlas skuldkänslor för att ha hamnat i prostitutionen samt att uppleva känslor av hat gentemot sig själv. I det tredje temat Tomhet och det livlösa berörs känslor av tomhet och att uppleva sig som död. Fjärde temat berör en ständig smärta som kan beskrivas existera både i stunden samtidigt som den kan återupplevs genom minnesbilder. I det sista temat hantering av upplevelser och känslor behandlas olika sätt att hantera den psykiska ohälsan och prostitutionen. Den psykiska ohälsan beskrivs av kvinnorna på olika sätt och uttrycks dessutom hanteras på olika sätt.

Denna kvalitativa studie syftar till att undersöka framställningen av plattformen OnlyFans i svensk nyhetsmedia. För att besvara vårt syfte har vi tre frågeställningar om makt- och genusrelationer, prostitution samt barn och ungas vanmakt. Detta med utgångspunkt i att plattformen till viss del förknippas med prostitution och barn och ungas vanmakt, och som därmed är relevant för det sociala arbetets verksamhetsfält. Vi har med hjälp av en tematisk innehållsanalys undersökt hur text i nyhetsartiklar och reportage som publicerats i de fyra största svenska tidningarna under perioden 9 april år 2020 till 29 april 2023, konstruerar en bild av plattformen OnlyFans. Av vårt empiriska material, som bestod av 20 stycken nyhetsartiklar och reportage, kunde vi skapa två huvudteman. Det första huvudtemat: OnlyFans och kreatörernas makt med två tillhörande underteman: Empowerment och Ekonomiskt makt. Det andra huvudtemat: OnlyFans och kreatörernas utsatthet med tre tillhörande underteman: Kreatörernas vanmakt, Prostitution samt Barn och ungas vanmakt. Vår studie tar genomgående avstamp i socialkonstruktionismen, men vi har även studerat genus- och maktrelationer utifrån Hirdmans genusteori. Med utgångspunkt i studiens socialkonstruktionistiska ansats har vi uppmärksammat hur media bidragit till talet om OnlyFans, och hur det kan tänkas forma samhällets förståelse av plattformen. Vi har i studien funnit att medias framställning av OnlyFans skildrar olika former av makt, som till viss del tillskrivs de kvinnliga kreatörerna. Detta då kreatörerna bland annat beskrivs erhålla empowerment, frihet, självständighet och ekonomisk vinning. Dock konstruerar media ävenen bild som ger sken av att de kvinnliga kreatörerna inte erhåller någon makt, bland annat med utgångspunkt i att engagemanget på plattformen kan grunda sig i ett manligt begär. Vi har även funnit att media skildrar förekomsten av barn och unga på OnlyFans, men detta till skillnad mot vuxna kvinnor framställs genomgående i negativa termer. Media skildrar till viss del en bild av att OnlyFans verkar som en arena för prostitution, men det förekommer även framställningar som ger en bild av det motsatta. Analysprocessen föranledde tankar om vilka konsekvenser medias framställning kan ha på samhället, och hur det kan komma att påverka det sociala arbetets verksamhetsfält. Vi har bland annat landat i slutsatsen att medias framställning av OnlyFans har inverkan på socialt arbete med utgångspunkt i att socialarbetares inställning till fenomenet kan påverkas av hur media talar om det.

The study is about young women's experiences of prostitution in Sweden. The purpose of the study is to broaden the knowledge of how prostitution is initiated, affected, and managed by the sample group. The empirical data is placed in relation to intersectionality and a feminist approach and is then discussed. The intersectional perspective helps to illuminate how different factors in the lives of individuals interact in both negative and positive directions, including age, class, and gender. The feminist perspective highlights how power structures affect the sex sellers' story. The method of the study is based on an abductive thematic analysis where the empirical data is based on two biographies where three young women with experiences of prostitution tell their stories. Based on the empirical data, themes have been identified. The result presents three main themes with associated sub-themes. These themes are the problematization of the sale of sex, the imprint of the disaster and balancing in the dark. The first theme concerns the individuals' experiences that lead to and maintain prostitution. This includes sexual abuse and family constellations. The second theme deals with the psychological impact of the sale of sex and its consequences, including the women's self-hatred and the men's oppression. The third theme concerns how the women handle their situation in positive and negative ways including self-harm and the support of social networks. / Studien är av kvalitativ karaktär och handlar om unga kvinnors erfarenheter av prostitution i Sverige. Syftet med studien är att bredda kunskapen kring hur prostitution initieras, påverkas och hanteras av urvalsgruppen. Empirin ställs i förhållande till intersektionalitet samt ett feministiskt synsätt och diskuteras därefter. Det intersektionella perspektivet bidrar med att belysa hur olika faktorer i individernas liv samverkar i såväl negativ som positiv riktning, däribland ålder, klass och kön. Feministiska perspektivet belyser hur maktstrukturer påverkar sexförsäljarnas berättelse. Studiens metod utgår utifrån en abduktiv tematisk analys där empirin baseras på två biografier där tre unga kvinnor med erfarenheter av prostitution berättar sina historier. Utifrån empirin har teman identifierats. I resultatet presenteras tre huvudteman med tillhörande underteman. Dessa teman är problematisering av sexförsäljning, katastrofens avtryck och balansgång i mörkret. Under första temat berörs individernas erfarenheter som föranleder till och upprätthåller prostitutionen. Däribland sexuella övergrepp och familjekonstellationer. Under andra temat behandlas sexförsäljningens psykiska påverkan och dess följder. Inklusive kvinnornas självhat och männens maktutövande. Det tredje temat berör hur kvinnorna hanterar sin situation på positiva och negativa sätt, däribland självskadebeteenden och sociala nätverkens stöd. Studiens slutsats resulterade i att alla kan drabbas av prostitution, oavsett socioekonomisk bakgrund.