An article in Turkiye Klinikleri J Med Sci 2011;31(5):1167-78.
Objective: We conducted a descriptive study to determine various forms of violence and their impacts on registered female sex workers in Turkey.
Material and Methods: We surveyed 124 registered female sex workers of a mean age of 41.6 ± 9.1 years, at obligatory periodic examination in the Departments of Dermatology and Sexually Transmitted Diseases at Ankara Metropolitan Municipality Hospital. The researchers developed and validated a questionnaire, based on relevant literature, and administered it to participants via face to face surveys. The questionnaire contained questions about levels of psychological, physical, sexual, financial and public violence among female sex workers.
Results: The most common violence types were psychological (insulting), physical (slapping/punching), public (social isolation), sexual (forced unprotected intercourse) and financial (confiscation of the earnings). The main perpetrators of violence were mostly clients, relatives and pimps.
Conclusion: Female sex workers seemed to be exposed to all kinds of violence. Violence affected women’s life by destroying their self respect, damaged self-esteem, threatening the safety of themselves and family members, abolishing their safety, economic independence and individual freedom, and disturbing social aspect of their lives.
(edited authors’ abstract)
Theme:
Author:
Hayriye Ünlu, Tülin Beduk, Derya Öztuna
