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Study of prostitution in urban studies is of particular importance because of its rapid growth in
cities. This paper aims to study the effect of some social factors on the propensity of women for
prostitution in Tehran city. The current study is a cross-sectional survey. The used tool for data
collection is questionnaire. The study population is all 18 to 30 years old people living in Tehran
city. In this paper, by using Cochran formula, a sample size of 384 was calculated. Sampling
method for accessing studied samples, according to heterogeneous population of the city of Tehran,
is a multistage stratified random sampling. In this study we examined four variables of Educational
level, Social support, Social adjustment, and Adherence to religious beliefs. For testing the
correlation between independent variables and dependent variable, Pearson correlation coefficient
was used by applying SPSS software.The results showed that there were significant relationships
between three independent variables of Educational level, Social support, and Adherence to
religious beliefs and dependent variable of tendency to Prostitution (R= -0.731, -0.318, and -0.193,
respectively) but there was no significant relationship between Social adjustment and Tendency of
Tehranian women to prostitution. In order to investigate the relationship of total independent
variables with Tendency to prostitution as well as determining the extent to which the independent
variables are capable of explaining level of Tendency, and which one of them is a stronger
predictor, Stepwise Multiple regression analysis was conducted. Its results showed that Educational
level was the most influential factor.
Prostitution
Social support
Adherence
Education
Tehranian women
2014 Int. j. econ. manag. soc. sci. All rights reserved for TI Journals.
1.
Introduction
Today the city is a confusing array of restaurants and hotels, a beautiful and modern office buildings, airports, and etc., In addition to its
large population of immigrants, the poor and deprived people. Huge modern cities receive power and wealth and as well as endless
deprivation and misery. The adjacent neighborhood of lives of great riches, and favors as well as low livelihoods, becomes increasingly
obvious and evident in all cities of the world. Among the phenomena that have long existed in the cities is the phenomenon of
"prostitution". Prostitution as hazardous for human rights, the existence of different interpretations of the causes of this type of bias and
lack of serious legal and judicial barriers against sexually oppression of women by men implied its independent investigation. Today
prostitutes being victimized by any means, including individual, society, economy, and even external factors (advertising and Internet), are
trying to get their acquittal. This is indicative of the fact that one cannot simply study woman based on her guilty.
Researchers believe that the interaction among biological, psychological, social, economic, and etc., provide the basis for women to
prostitution. Among those in the social sciences all agree on the idea that there is no causal single social phenomenon. Even conflict
theorists also have realized their incomplete theory on claiming that economics is the total cause of all social phenomena. Prostitution can
be defined as having sex for money. [1]
Maknoun and Ataei Ashtiani (2005), According to Lerner, stated that "The Oldest Profession" includes the best and most widely accepted
definition for prostitution. In Ancient Babylonian civilization in Mesopotamia, workers and guards in temples, to please the gods and lords
religion, offered sexual services. According to the kind of gods, location, time, and place, this action was done in different ways, and the
same in the next period, prostitution was on business at or near the temples. Military conquest and enslavement of women, Caused
instrumental use of women and later their commercial use. In certain periods, such as the Napoleonic period, prostitutes, women were
generally distinguished and highly educated and men wish them.
The phenomenon of prostitution is a social problem whose consequences, In addition to family, covers individuals and society and on a
large scale, various aspects of economic, social and political. Control of street Women like any other problems, require accurate knowledge
of qualitative and quantitative aspects But in Iran, recognizing and dealing with this phenomenon is based solely on suppression on behalf
of campaign plans, and Cross maneuvers by The police and judicial authorities and institutions; Therefore, it is necessary that in the light of
scientific research and understanding of various aspects of crime and causes and roots of this social harm, We try to solve this problem. In
This regard, the present research work intends to evaluate the effect of some factors affecting the propensity to prostitution.
* Corresponding author.
Email address: Mrd_mm@yahoo.com
The Effect of Some Social Factors on Tendency of Women to Prostitution in Tehran City
Internat ional Jour nal of Economy, Mana ge ment and Social Sciences , 3(1) January 2014
Int ernational Journal of Economy, Mana ge ment and Soci al Sci ences , 3(1) January 2014
prostitution is a universality phenomenon. Sociologists have presented several theories to explain this phenomenon. Those who were
influenced by private property theory of Engels, such as Lerner, believe that Prostitution is not a business but a special form of slavery and
the social classes, whereas someone such as Robin Gill that influenced by the view of Strauss, believes that prostitution is Because of
ethnicity and the marriage. He believes that the origin of prostitution in the history is ethnic systems that Women were exchanged between
families to stabilize social circles. generally, look of prostitution show that today's economy is the main cause of increased exploitation of
women, and its purpose is to raise capital in the economies of the world, So in achieving profitable interests, Victimization of human is a
normal thing. [4]
Feminization of poverty also is another factor affecting the Prostitution. Demir says: Global poverty and unequal distribution of income
and capital around the world, has heavily impacted Women. Of the world's 1.3 billion poor, Women and children constitute 70 percent of it.
Feminization of poverty is one the most important factors that bring women to trafficking gangs by their own will with the hope that
support his family financially and secure the economic future of his life. Agents of prostitution themselves after being on this way,
involvement in addiction, Infection of sexually transmitted diseases, and permanent exclusion and humiliated by men that have Good
grounds for bringing other people into the criminal charges, are also considered a prostitute. These women because of their extensive social
interaction are skilled anthropologists. [5]
Other factors that sociologists have pointed out is thriving sex tourism industry. These tourists that are mostly in tourism countries such as
Thailand, Brazil, Kenya, Jamaica and etc., Today, have became sex tourism as one of the factors pushing women into prostitution. Other
sociological theories about prostitution that have the ideas are theories of feminism. Liberal feminists, Based on the principles of Freedom
of John Stuart Mill and According to the separation of public and private spheres, with the slogan "a woman's body, a woman's right",
believe that as we need services such as plumbing, mechanical and etc. and in exchange of money we receive services, In Sex for money,
also, in exchange for a completely free trade agreement, women are exchanged for money.[8]
Prostitution is indicative of tendency and treating women as objects that can be used for sexual purposes and prostitution will also help turn
this trend to continue exploring. In fact, prostitution is a relationship of unequal power in sexual life. Prostitution is a means of satisfying
sexual desires of those with abnormal sexual desires that it will not be accepted by normal women. [3]
2.
Previous research
In the mid-1990s, the Internet was the best location for the proposed porn ads. In early September 1995, there were a number of 101,908
commercial centers in the internet that in about 72,706 of these centers, advertising sex industry was more than anything else. In 1996, the
Americans paid more than $ 9 billion for the videotapes, satellite programs, live shows, magazines, journals, and also computer programs
on the subject of Pornography. This amount is more than any type of business entertainment such as movies, music, and theater. This
amount is equal to repayment the loan of more than 20 countries. National Task Force on Prostitution Announced that there were over one
million women in the U.S. as prostitutes, the equivalent of 1 percent of U.S. women. In 1997, only the United States, through tens of
thousands of websites in one year, had a billion dollar income. [4]
Sharafatipour (2006), in a research focused on Characteristics of economic, social and family disruption violence of street prostitutes in
Tehran. The results of his studies on 150 street women of Tehran showed that Girls, from 12 to 17 years, are at risk of diversion. Most of
the first unlawful sexual contact was related to the ages of 13 and 14 years. His survey also showed that the age of prostitution is 14-15
years and 52% of these women, before reaching the legal age (18 years), were entered into the world of prostitution. The frequency of
sexual contacts of prostitutes varied from 1 to 30 times a week but, on average, every street woman on every week has 9 times sexual
contact. 74% of these people stated economic needs as one of Effective factors on prostitution, 85% of them had experienced drug and 68%
were addicts. In terms of family violence, 57% of them had been beaten at home and about 27.7 % had touched sexual abuse in their
family. Sharafatipour concluded that the lower age at first sexual intercourse and family violence, the more likely to be a street woman.
In another research, Owliaei Zand (2002b) studied the relationship between difficult marriage and tendency to prostitution and pointed to
other aspects of prostitution. His study conducted on 147 prostitute women or resident in Welfare Organization Resorts. The results showed
that Prostitutes in 22.5% of cases were suffered sexual harassment in childhood and often at ages of five years by their relatives and
especially their intimate. Most of these people believed that the lack of love by parents, especially mothers was their reason to escape the
family. 35% of them were forced to marry. In fact, one third of prostitutes probably were working to pay family costs or more likely, were
to provide Addiction costs of their fathers. 54% of their husbands were also addicted and 72% of the victims were beaten in their husband
family. As a result of this harassment, more than half of them did not enjoy sex with their husbands.
Scambler et al (1990) in their research studied the variable tendency to define western prostitutes as causal agents in the transmission and
spread of HIV/AIDS. They summarized the medical/epidemiological evidence against doing it. Also they discussed the impact of the AIDS
pandemic on prostitutes and their work. It was contended that the legal process continues to discriminate unjustly against women
prostitutes; that a 'double standard' of sexual morality persists; and that prostitute groups had articulated a clear response to law and
ideology, hinging on the de-criminalization of unforced adult prostitution. It was suggested that one likely consequence of decimalization
would be improved access to health education and care facilities, as relevant for the general health status of women workers as for STDs,
including AIDS.
3.
Research hypotheses
H1.
H2.
H3.
H4.
There was a significant relationship between education level and Tendency of respondents to prostitution.
There was a significant relationship between social support and Tendency of respondents to prostitution.
There was a significant relationship between Social adjustment and Tendency of respondents to prostitution.
There was a significant relationship between adherence to religious beliefs and Tendency of respondents to prostitution.
The Effect of Some Social Factors on Tendency of Women to Prostitution in Tehran City
Internat ional Jour nal of Economy, Mana ge ment and Social Sciences , 3(1) January 2014
4.
Research method
The current study is a cross-sectional survey. The used tool for data collection is questionnaire. In this research in order to evaluate social
support variable, the Social Support Questionnaire of Russell and Cutrona, and to assess social adjustment variable, California Test of
Personality were applied. The study population is all 18 to 30 years old people living in Tehran city. In this study, the data analysis is based
on inferential method. To test study hypotheses, inferential tests (Pearson correlation and Stepwise multiple regression analysis) have been
carried out by using SPSS software. In this paper, by using Cochran formula, a sample size of 384 was calculated with an error level of 5%
and a confidence level of 95%. To compensate for incomplete and unusable questionnaires, 400 questionnaires were distributed and 378
questionnaires were delivered.
Sampling method for accessing studied samples, according to heterogeneous population of the city of Tehran, is a multistage stratified
random sampling. Tehran has 22 regions and based on the population of each one and the areas of these regions, the sample size was
determined. First, the proportion of young people in all regions of Tehran was identified and the sample size was calculated for each
region. Second, the proportion of young people and the sample size was calculated for each area. In each area, odd even streets were
randomly selected and also in each street some houses are randomly selected based on their number.
To determine the validity of questionnaires, a pre-test was conducted in which 30 preliminary questionnaires were distributed among some
sampling people to be answered. During implementation and completion, accuracy of some items was identified and improvements were
taken in that, and some items were removed. To determine the validity of each scale, construct validity method was applied using factor
analysis method and reliability for each variable, was measured by Cronbach's alpha. Adequacy of sample size was determined by using
Bartlett's and KMO test (table 1). Since KMO, in all cases, is greater than 0.7, then the correlation between the data is suitable for factor
analysis. In addition, Cronbach's alpha is greater than 0.7 for all variables, so reliability is acceptable. chi square index of Bartlett's test of
sphericity for all constructs is 0.000 (p<0.001) which is statistically significant.
Table 1. Results of factor analysis and Cronbach's alpha coefficient of the research variables
5.
Dependent variable
KMO
Chi square
index
Explained
variance
Cronbach's
alpha
Social support
0.719
0.000
64.76
0.778
Social adjustment
0.816
0.000
39.18
0.916
0.783
0.000
69.45
0.792
Tendency to prostitution
0.936
0.000
61.86
0.738
Independent variables
Social support
Adherence to religious beliefs
Educational level
Social adjustment
Pearson correlation
coefficient (R)
-0.318
-0.193
-0.731
0.0013
Sig.
0.004
0.03
0.000
0.069
According to the results, we can see that there is a significant correlation between Social support and tendency of respondents to
prostitution. As seen in table 2, R=-0.318 which shows an inverse correlation with low intensity. The significance level is 0.04, which
indicates that this relationship is significant (99%). This means that with increasing the level of social protection, the tendency to
prostitution will be reduced. Results also show that between Adherence to religious beliefs and tendency of respondents to prostitution, the
relationship is significant (95%). In this regard, R= -0.193 which shows an inverse correlation with low intensity, and sig. = 0.03.this means
with increasing respondents' adherence to religious beliefs, tendency to prostitution will be reduced.
Another variable is educational level. According to table 2, R=-0.731 which shows a strong correlation between the inverse range; sig. =
0.000 which indicates that the relationship between education level and Tendency of respondents to prostitution is significant (99%). This
means educational level of women of Tehran has a significant and inverse impact on their tendency to prostitution, and With increasing
levels of education, their tendency to prostitution will be reduced. The only hypothesis that is rejected is the correlation between Social
adjustment and Tendency of respondents to prostitution. According to the results, there is no significant relationship between them because
R=0.0013 which shows a very weak correlation, and significance level is 0.069 (p0.05).
10
Int ernational Journal of Economy, Mana ge ment and Soci al Sci ences , 3(1) January 2014
Predictor variables
ADJ. R2
Sig.T
Step 1
Educational level
0.099
0.692
-1.435
0.000
Step 2
Social support
0.135
0.384
-12.36
0.000
Step 3
0.237
0.196
-9.785
0.000
Sig.F
2.013
0.000
According to table 3, the first variable entered in the equation was variables of Educational level. This variable explained about 10% of
variance of the tendency to prostitution. In next step, variable of Social support was entered in the equation and explained about 13.5 % of
variance of dependent variable. Finally, variable of Adherence to religious beliefs explained 23.5% of variance. Totally, these three
variables explained 23.7% of the dependent variable (Adj.R2=0.237)
6.
Conclusion
What is certain is that a set of factors hand in hand together cause the individual to be a victim of prostitution, although it is not possible to
Lay down the rules, decisively, that can eradicate prostitution But we can take it down or keep at a minimal level. Some people believe that
, According social principle, since if we forbid human from something, he will be more greedy to it, Prostitution and sex should be free and
unrestricted; However, experience has shown that It not only has not reduced prostitution, but it also has increased. The aim of this study
was to investigate factors influencing tendency to prostitution in Tehran city. The results showed that there were significant relationships
between three independent variables of Educational level, Social support, and Adherence to religious beliefs and dependent variable of
tendency to Prostitution (R= -0.731, -0.318, and -0.193, respectively). The correlation coefficient of all three is negative, indicating an
inverse relation. With these descriptions, with higher levels of education, social support, and adherence to religious beliefs can tend to
reduce prostitution. There was no significant relationship between Social adjustment and Tendency of Tehranian women to prostitution.
Among the four independent variables in this study, three variables of Educational level, Social support, and Adherence to religious beliefs
were entered in the equation. Totally, these three variables explained 23.7% of the dependent variable (Adj.R2 =0.237). Since sex
trafficking and prostitution is a global phenomenon, Reaction against it must also be global. Governments should cooperate to exchange
information regarding trafficking gangs, Exchange of victims to get them to their native land, punishment of domestic and foreign
traffickers without any negligence and protect, and Housing, education and rehabilitation of victims. Unfortunately, in existing
international documents, the stage of prevention" is rarely considered while it should be considered. In this research we concluded that
Educational level, Social support, and Adherence to religious beliefs have a large impact on this social problem. Based on these findings,
preventive programs in economic, social and educational planning should be fully considered.
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