Chapter 2
WHY DO YOUNG PEOPLE GET INVOLVED IN PROSTITUTION/CAUSES
When one asked what causes prostitution, the answers are more tended on the ‘why’ aspect of prostitution itself. Hence, the causes of child prostitution are conflict-laden and problematic as there are factors that are considered causes but are also considered as effects, while at times, these factors are also considered as consequences (i.e. isolation). What we need to understand though is that child prostitution is a social problem that depends heavily on demand and supply as well as other external causes ( Acton
Family Background or Situation
Childhood abuse or neglect also starts at home with child sexual abuse as the most frequently mentioned form of abuse occurring in domestic settings. This is especially true for child prostitutes who belong to a second family with members who might act as punters such as the step fathers. The absence of a father figure at home as well contributes to the increasing number of child prostitutes in the streets (Macleod, 2006). Child prostitutes preferred the life in the streets rather than the confines of their homes where they should be living with their abusers. Further, abuse often leads to stowing away resulting to homelessness and use of drugs and alcohol as a form of escape. Psychologically, entering the sex business could be also perceived as a form of self-harm because of the long-held but kept guilt of not being able to protect themselves as well as the knowledge that even their own family cannot protect them from their abusers (Macleod, 2006). Child abuses are regarded as one of the main reasons of lack of self-esteem among young people as well (Taylor-Browne, 2002).
Expectedly, when the child(ren) grew up in a dysfunctional family, they are more inclined to acquire anti-social behaviours. Much of the family breakdowns in history involve domestic violence which jeopardises the love and affection that should be given to the child (Itzin, 2000, p. 4). Another example of dysfunctionality is growing up in a family with history of prostitution. Prostitution will then function as a learned behaviour that is deemed as acceptable at least for the family members (Itzin, p. 80). What seems to be tolerable for those family members who are involved in prostitution before will be also reasonable for the ones who are involved in prostitution now. At times, their mothers who used to work as a prostitute may be also the ones who will encourage them to work as prostitutes as well. Yet another form of dysfunctionality is growing up in an incestuous family that may contribute to the family dysfunction (Macleod, 2006). Incestuous mothers and fathers have inherent feelings of guilt, shame and rejection that could be witnessed and acquired by the child (Ney, 1995, p. 263).
When this happens, the child, most often than not, would turn to his/her peers for support. The problem would be the influences that the [wrongs] crowds will inflict the child to say, think and do. This reflects other problems which may increase child’s vulnerability which is the lack of parent-child communication. Homes with communication issues always have arguments and confrontations that hurt the family members even more especially the child (Taylor-Browne, 2002). According to Brown and Barratt (2002), there is an explicit link between absconders from residential homes and/or family homes, homelessness and child prostitution. The authors interpreted such aspect as a systematic endeavour, leading to social exclusion. The precarious social and economic position of those children who experienced severe problems within their families who runaway from home and care institutions are often faced with consequences. Begging, drug dealing and prostitution are among the alternatives for absconders. And because there is a lack of deterrent, prostitution is the preferred crime (pp. 11-12).
Drugs Misuse
Addiction is the second major cause of child prostitution, of drugs and alcohol. Drug abuse is one thing that is both a cause and an effect wherein child prostitutes were drugged at first by boyfriends, punters and pimps in order that they can do whatever it is they are told to do as prostitutes and because of the damaged image and reputation which they can no longer fix or go back to being their old selves, they resort in using drugs (Taylor-Browne, 2002). As Flowers (1994) puts it, there is a strong correlation that exists between child prostitution and drug or alcohol use, misuse and abuse. It is estimated that between one-half of all child prostitutes use drugs regularly. Marijuana is the drug used most often by teenage prostitutes and narcotics and psychedelic drugs as well as alcohol abuse are also been consistently associated with child prostitute. Male prostitutes also used hard drugs and most are also heavy drinkers or alcoholics. Many young prostitutes were also experienced in drug and alcohol use even before they enter the world of prostitution (p. 88).
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Poverty
Poverty is often invoked as a reason for child prostitution. Poverty reasons include paying for debt, low benefits from employment, payment for education and lack of recourse to public funds. There are families who are unable to support their children which make these children an easy prey for the trade that lurks beyond particularly when it comes to their education (Macleod, 2006). These lead them to be uneducated with no skills and poor educational background and because of lack of alternatives in the end, some child prostitutes prefer to work as such because of the easy money. Some child prostitutes – male and female – entered prostitution because of the money involved. Child prostitutes desire for money to pay for bills, basically and to obtain a lifestyle that one should otherwise be unable to afford. In search of a livelihood, these children decide to themselves to penetrate the sex industry because of the perceived benefits. Prostitution for some prostitutes was thought of as something that could make their lives better (Taylor-Browne, 2002).
According to Beyer (1996), the poverty argument would be incomplete without the argument of criminality. Poverty may explain certain conduct but it does not justify or necessarily lead to exploitative criminal conducts. Although it is still rooted in poverty, one aspect that best justifies this situation is the power imbalance. Social inequality and abuse of power could lead to coercion into prostitution. Child prostitutes are often pimped, trafficked and tricked into doing it. The third argument is commercialisation or the dynamics of supply and demand. Child prostitution was now perceived as a high profiting business although it cannot be considered as a high paying ‘job’ for the child prostitutes. Poverty explains the supply as more and more children are pushed into prostitution (pp. 11-12). O’Connell Davidson (2005) also noted that poverty is also inexistence on the side of the demand. The demands, especially those who come from low-income men, have discovered that it is cheaper to use and children are less likely to be infected with sexually transmitted diseases like HIV and AIDS (p. 31).
Real Life Story
An article written by Thompson (2005) discusses the ‘hidden cycle of sexual abuse which shames Newcastle
References
Acton
Beyer, D 1996, Forced Labour: The Prostitution of Children, Diane Publishing.
Flowers, R B 1994, The Victimization and Exploitation of Women and Children: A Study of Physical, Mental and Sexual Maltreatment, McFarland.
Itzin, C 2000, Home Truths about Child Sexual Abuse, Routledge, London
Macleod, J 2006, ‘What causes prostitution?’ retrieved on 11 February 2009, from http://www.chaste.org.uk/public_documents/causesofprostitution.pdf.
Ney, T 1995, True and False Allegations of Child Sexual Abuse: Assessment and Case Management, Psychology Press.
O’Connell Davidson, J 2005, Children in the Global Sex Trade, Polity Press.
Taylor-Browne, J 2002, More than one chance! – Young people involved in prostitution speak out, retrieved on 11 February 2009, from http://www.ecpat.org.uk/downloads/More_Than_One_Chance.pdf.
Thompson, T 2005, ‘Prostitution at only 11,’ Chronicle online, retrieved on 11 February 2009, from http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/north-east-news/todays-evening-chronicle/tm_objectid=15368726&method=full&siteid=50081&headline=prostitute-at-only-11-name_page.html.
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