Sexköpslagens glömda kvinnor - En diskursanalytisk studie av bilden av prostitution i teori och praktik
ProstitutionSex workerThe law that prohibits the purchase of sexual servicesSwedenSocial constructionismDiscourse analysisComparative perspectiveProstitutionSexsäljareSexköpslagenSverigeSocialkonstruktionismDiskursanalysJämförande perspektiv
In Sweden prostitution is by many considered to be a social problem that primarily affects women. To counteract prostitution is a political priority and as a result the purchase of sexual services is prohibited by law. Since the law that prohibits the purchase of sexual services entered into force it has been continuously debated and widely disputed. The aim of this thesis is to compare the image of prostitution found in the travaux préparatoires of the law with four sex workers? view of the phenomenon. A discourse analysis is performed to establish which images of prostitution appear in theory and in practice. The results show that the images of prostitution in the travaux préparatoires of the law differ widely from the views expressed by the interviewees. The discourses identified in the travaux préparatoires unanimously emphasize the injurious effects of the prostitution and the exposed situation of the sex workers. In the discourses identified in the interview material the businesslike aspects of prostitution and the sex workers? autonomy is emphasized. The results raise questions about the completeness of the travaux préparatoires and bring the need for studies where different groups of sex workers are questioned to the fore.