Reframing Prostitution Reframing Prostitution has always fascinated the public and bewildered policy makers. Reframing Prostitution explores several aspects of this multidimensional phenomenon, examining di erent ways in which prostitution is and was being practised in di erent places and di erent times, best practices in the regulation of prostitution as well as wider social and Reframing psychological issues, such as the construction of prostitution as incivility or of prosti- tutes as a socially problematic group or as victimised individuals. The book also address- es normative questions with respect to policy making, unmasking the purposes behind certain societal reactions towards prostitution as well as proposing innovative solutions Prostitution that could reconcile societal fears of exploitation and abuse while meeting the rights and needs of individuals voluntarily involved in prostitution. From Discourse to Description, to Normalisation? Moralisation Discourse to Description, from From With contributions across social science disciplines, this international collection pre- from Moralisation to Normalisation? sents a valuable discussion on the importance of empirical studies in various segments of prostitution, highlights social contexts around it and challenges regulatory responses that frame our thinking about prostitution, promoting fresh debate about future policy directions in this area. Nina Peršak Gert Vermeulen (Eds.) www.maklu.euISBN 978-90-466-0673-5 Institute for International Research on Criminal Policy Ghent University 9 789046 606735 > MAKLU MAKLU Reframing Prostitution Reframing Prostitution From Discourse to Description, From Moralisation to Normalisation? Nina Peršak Gert Vermeulen (Eds.) Maklu Antwerp | Apeldoorn | Portland Reframing Prostitution From Discourse to Description, From Moralisation to Normalisation? N. Peršak and G. Vermeulen (Eds.) Antwerp | Apeldoorn | Portland Maklu 2014 326 pag. – 24 x 16 cm ISBN 978-90-466-0673-5 D/2014/1997/47 NUR 824 © 2014 Nina Peršak, Gert Vermeulen & Maklu-Publishers All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise without the prior per- mission of the editors and the publisher. Maklu-Publishers Somersstraat 13/15, 2018 Antwerp, Belgium, [email protected] Koninginnelaan 96, 7315 EB Apeldoorn, The Netherlands, [email protected] www.maklu.eu USA & Canada International Specialized Book Services 920 NE 58th Ave., Suite 300, Portland, OR 97213-3786, [email protected], www.isbs.com TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION Chapter 1. Faces and spaces of prostitution Nina Peršak & Gert Vermeulen 1. Faces ....................................................................................................................... 13 2. Spaces ..................................................................................................................... 15 3. Structure of the book ........................................................................................ 17 4. References ............................................................................................................ 23 PART I: PROSTITUTION IN ACTION: PAST AND PRESENT Chapter 2. Prostitution in world cities (1600s-2000s) Magaly Rodríguez García 1. Introduction ......................................................................................................... 25 2. Defining prostitution and prostitutes ........................................................ 26 3. Societal reaction and legal situation .......................................................... 28 4. Working spaces and conditions ................................................................... 34 5. Demographic data and causes of prostitution ........................................ 41 6. Conclusion ............................................................................................................ 46 7. References ............................................................................................................ 47 Chapter 3. Europe’s legal red-light districts: Comparing different models and distilling best practices Ronald Weitzer 1. Introduction ......................................................................................................... 53 2. Red-light districts .............................................................................................. 54 3. Study sites and methods ................................................................................. 55 4. Differences between three European cities ............................................. 56 4.1. Amsterdam ............................................................................................................... 56 4.2. Brussels ...................................................................................................................... 58 4.2.1. Workers and managers .......................................................................... 59 4.2.2. Assessment ................................................................................................... 61 4.3. Antwerp ..................................................................................................................... 61 4.3.1. Reforms ......................................................................................................... 61 4.3.2. Antwerp’s red-light district today ...................................................... 63 4.3.3. Assessment ................................................................................................... 65 5. Conclusion ............................................................................................................ 65 6. References ............................................................................................................ 68 Maklu 5 TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter 4. Prostitution and its relations with informal economies Dominique Boels 1. Introduction ......................................................................................................... 71 2. Prostitution and informal economy: An intricate relation ................ 72 3. Belgian policy on prostitution ...................................................................... 74 3.1. Federal: Abolitionist approach with criminalisation of third parties ......................................................................................................................... 74 3.2. Local: De facto legalisation ................................................................................ 76 4. Methods ................................................................................................................. 78 5. Prostitution in Ghent ........................................................................................ 79 5.1. Prostitution types .................................................................................................. 79 5.1.1. Street sex work ........................................................................................... 79 5.1.2. Window prostitution ............................................................................... 79 5.1.3. Bar prostitution ......................................................................................... 81 5.1.4. Private prostitution .................................................................................. 81 5.1.5. Escort prostitution.................................................................................... 81 5.2. Informal economic activities ............................................................................ 82 5.2.1. Undeclared labour and income ........................................................... 82 5.2.2. Pimping ......................................................................................................... 84 5.2.3. Ancillary activities and its participants ........................................... 86 6. Conclusion and discussion ............................................................................. 88 7. References ............................................................................................................ 92 Chapter 5. Economic factors of prostitution: Money, nature, crisis Nina Peršak 1. Introduction .......................................................................................................101 2. The economy of prostitution .......................................................................101 3. Global financial crisis and its effects on prostitution .........................103 4. Economy as nature: Sex for benefits within biological market theory ................................106 5. Economy as structure (within which the prostitute displays its agency) ..............................109 5.1. Structure and agency......................................................................................... 109 5.2. Societal reactions (to economy and prostitution) ................................ 111 6. Tentative projections: two-tiered increasing of vulnerability .......113 7. References ..........................................................................................................115 6 Maklu TABLE OF CONTENTS PART II: CONSTRUCTION OF PROSTITUTION AS A SOCIAL PROBLEM Chapter 6. Talking about prostitution and the representation of a (problematic) group: Identifying frames in Flemish news coverage on prostitution Katrien Symons & Kristien Gillis 1. Introduction .......................................................................................................121