What We Talk About When We Talk About Buying Sex

Niemi, Johanna

doi:10.1177/1077801209355239

Cited by 24 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 15 publications

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“…The policy concerning commercial sex work in the Netherlands is quite different compared to other countries. In many countries, selling of sex is illegal (Belgium [ 1 ], South-Africa [ 2 ], Canada [ 3 ] and most states in the United States of America [ 4 ]) or the purchase of sex is considered a legal offence (Sweden [ 5 ]). In the Netherlands, commercial sex work is legal since the brothel prohibition was lifted in 2000 [ 6 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sexually transmitted infections among female sex workers tested at STI clinics in the Netherlands, 2006–2013

Verscheijden

Woestenberg

Götz

et al. 2015

Emerg Themes Epidemiol

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BackgroundSpecialised sexually transmitted infection (STI) clinics in the Netherlands provide STI care for high-risk groups, including female sex workers (FSW), at the clinic and by outreach visiting commercial sex workplaces with a permit. The objective was to investigate the STI positivity rate and determinants of an STI diagnosis among FSW tested by STI clinics in the Netherlands.MethodsSexually transmitted infection clinics report demographic, behavioural and diagnostic information of every consultation to the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment. We analysed all consultations of FSW between 2006 and 2013. Trends in STI positivity rate (chlamydia, gonorrhoea, infectious syphilis, HIV and hepatitis B) were analysed using χ2 for trend and logistic regression was used to analyse determinants associated with an STI diagnosis. Differences between consultations at the STI clinic and consultations during outreach were analysed using χ2 tests.ResultsThe positivity rate for any STI (overall 9.5 %) was stable from 2006 to 2013. Chlamydia positivity rate (overall 7.1 %) decreased (p < 0.001) and gonorrhoea positivity rate (overall 2.6 %) increased (p < 0.001). For gonorrhoea, the highest positivity rate was found oropharyngeal (2.0 %). Characteristics associated with STI were a younger age [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 0.96, 95 % confidence interval (CI) 0.95–0.97 per year], a previous STI diagnosis (aOR 1.63, 95 % CI 1.38–1.92) and being notified for an STI by partner notification (aOR 2.61, 95 % CI 2.0–3.40). The STI positivity rate was significantly lower among FSW tested at outreach locations (8.6 %) compared to FSW tested at the STI clinic (11.7 %, p < 0.001).ConclusionsThe STI positivity rate among FSW remained stable, but underlying this was a decreasing chlamydia trend and an increasing gonorrhoea trend, suggesting a shift in STI risks among FSW over time. Condom use during oral sex should be promoted since oropharyngeal gonorrhoea was frequently diagnosed and because of the potential spread of antimicrobial resistant gonococci.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12982-015-0034-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sexually transmitted infections among female sex workers tested at STI clinics in the Netherlands, 2006–2013

Verscheijden

Woestenberg

Götz

et al. 2015

Emerg Themes Epidemiol

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“…Fourth, discussion of sex work and sexual exploitation has in recent decades adopted the metaphors of the market: policymakers and commentators talk in terms of 'worker', 'seller', 'buyer', 'clients' and a 'sex trade' (see Niemi, 2010, for a critical review). Many see this as problematic in that it normalises the commodification of sexual services and appears to discursively neutralise any exploitation involved.…”

Section: Proposed Model: Challenges and Limitationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Is it time to drop the term ‘prostitution’ from policy discourse?

Mulvihill

2019

Journal of Gender-Based Violence

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In this paper, I wish to explore whether it is time to drop the use of the term ‘prostitution’ in English policy discourse. I argue here that ‘prostitution’ is a culturally loaded term and is insufficiently precise in describing the different contexts in which the exchange of sex for money or other resources between adults takes place. This lack of clarity has implications for policy action, which in turn materially affects the lives of those involved in the sex industry. I draw on MacKinnon’s (1989) thesis of the eroticisation of dominance as a productive framework for explaining why violence, harm and coercion are possible within the exchange of sex for money (or other resource), though not inevitable. I propose that we distinguish four categories: sex entrepreneurship, sex work, survival sex and sexual exploitation. For some scholars, such categorisations overlook how disparate practices are connected (Jeffreys, 2009), most obviously by patriarchy or economic inequality. However, I believe we need to see both the connections and the distinctions: if we conflate different practices, we lose the particularity of the contexts of practice and weaken the rationale for policy action. Worse, policy interventions may be harmful. I suggest these four categories can help us identify and distinguish between structural and interpersonal harm and structural and interpersonal coercion and help to formulate attendant criminal justice and social justice measures.

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“…Finally, a compromise to criminalize buying sex from a person who has been trafficked or pandered was accepted in Finland in 2006. In the proposal, sex buying and the prohibition were predominantly argued on the grounds of preventing organized crime (Niemi, 2010). The crime is titled abuse of a victim of sex trade and carries a maximum penalty of 6 months in prison (CC, chap.…”

Section: Prostitution Law and Policy In Finlandmentioning

confidence: 99%

Tackling Trafficking by Targeting Sex Buyers: Can It Work?

Niemi

Aaltonen²

2016

Violence Against Women

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The European legal instruments on human trafficking encourage states to tackle the demand for services of trafficked persons, for example, by making the use of services of a trafficked person a criminal offense. In Finland, buying sex from a trafficked person is a criminal offense. This article reports the results of an evaluation of the Finnish law and shows that the implementation has been inefficient. The authors argue that with an amendment of the law, the implementation could be improved but a truly efficient policy would require a total ban of sex purchase along the lines of the Swedish model.

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What We Talk About When We Talk About Buying Sex

Cited by 24 publications

References 15 publications

Sexually transmitted infections among female sex workers tested at STI clinics in the Netherlands, 2006–2013

Sexually transmitted infections among female sex workers tested at STI clinics in the Netherlands, 2006–2013

Is it time to drop the term ‘prostitution’ from policy discourse?

Tackling Trafficking by Targeting Sex Buyers: Can It Work?

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