Escort s websites: A source of data for prostitution studies?

Transcription

1 Escort s websites: A source of data for prostitution studies? Alessandra Gaia Ph.D in Applied Sociology and Methodology of Social Research Cycle XXVII Università degli Studi di Milano - Bicocca [email protected]

2 Escort websites and social research Lack of studies on prostitution clients difficulties in reaching such an elusive and hidden population (Holt and Blevins, 2007; Di Nicola and Ruspini, 2009). Are escort websites a source of data for social research on prostitution? 2

3 Research on an elusive population The lack of studies "is mainly due to the difficulty in identifying active customers" (Holt and Blevins, 2007: 334). Clients are subject to social stigma (O'Connell Davidson, 1998) and generally hide the nature of their consumption (McKeganey and Barnard, 1996). Customers belong to a hidden population, not easily accessible (Di Nicola and Ruspini, 2009). Web analyses improve the accessibility to this population Internet has become an important resource for both sex workers and for their customers (O'Neill, 2001). 3

4 Social stigma vs. anonymousness The computer-mediated communication allows an exchange of information free from social stigma. Using Internet clients meet virtually to exchange information and experiences on their consumption with the advantage of remaining anonymous (Sharp and Earle, 2003). The exchange of information online has spread in countries where prostitution is not regulated (e.g. Italy) but also where it is illegal (e.g. U.S.A.) (Logan, 2010; Holt and Blevins, 2007). Data cover both street (e.g. and indoor prostitution ( 4

5 Document analysis PROS: avoiding bias due to social stigma Document analysis permits reaching groups that would be unreachable with direct observation (Arosio, 2010). Non - reactive methods: there is no interaction between the researcher and the production of the document relevant feature when dealing with groups that may be subject to social stigma. 5

6 Document analysis Cons: virtual vs. real identity, sampling and representativeness Improper use of on line documents for the analysis of real identities (Arosio, 2010) authors may create fake profiles, give an identity that is totally or partially different from the real one. Instead, on line documents may be used to study the on line identity as virtual images of the self (Arosio, 2010). Sampling and case studies representativeness: If the sample is not probabilistic the analysis is not representative of the entire population. Define the unite of analysis. 6

7 The Italian website: Escort forum: The major Italian website in the sector. Includes (data refer to the website accessed on June 2012): Adds of sex workers: mainly female (1110), some transsexual (27) and few males (4) Forum for clients (various topics: 27 thematic areas, over 1 million messages) Reviews of escort services Roughly users Access rules, regulation and disclaimer Specific jargon as in other sex workers websites (Holt and Blevins, 2007; Sharpe and Earle, 2007) aim: hiding the nature of the consumption. 7

8 Reviews 8

9 Reviews: 9

10 Reviews: 10

11 Possible application: An Italian study Di Nicola et al., 2007: Italian pilot study based on data from It analyzes the socio-economic characteristics of prostitution clients. Is it representative of the entire Italian population of prostitution clients? Is the virtual identity equal to real identity? (Slide 6) How to chose which post to analyze (some authors are more prolific than others). Clients are mailnly youth (age 20-35), employed, with mediumhigh scholarization, with good knowledge of thecnology and internet (Di Nicola et al., 2007). They share a machistic ideology, believing men is forced to search a paid sexual relationship for biological reasons. 11

12 A study on male sex workers in the USA 1/2 Logan (2010) constructed a dataset on 1,932 cases from the largest online male sex worker website of the United States. Advantages of the source: Avoid selection problems of field work Possibility to collect information on escort ( ) free from the selection problems one would encounter in a field survey of escorts (Logan, 2010: 686). Identification of escorts home locations geographical distribution Escort characteristics are yes-no questions and do not admit non response useful to construct the pricing model. Accessibility: The website is free for viewing by all information provided is for a large, general client base and not manipulated to please paying members of the website (Logan, 2010: 686). Coverage: The data source provides sufficient coverage of the online escort market. 12

13 A study on male sex workers in the USA 2/2 Findings: The geographic distribution of male sex workers is more strongly correlated with the general population than with the gay male population (Logan, 2010: 679). Consistent with hegemonic masculinity, male escorts who advertise masculine behaviour charge higher prices, whereas escorts who advertise less masculine behaviour charge significantly less (Logan, 2010: 679). Race and sexual behaviour interactions exert a strong influence on prices charged by male sex workers (Logan, 2010: 679). 13

14 To sum up: Document analysis of online texts can be useful in reaching a hidden population, avoiding social stigma and access to the field but do not overlook: The difference between real identities and virtual identity. Sampling issues Representativeness. 14

15 Questions? Thank you for your attention! 15

16 References Arosio, Laura L uso dei documenti. In De Lillo, Antonio, (eds.) Il mondo della ricerca qualitativa. Utet. Novara. Di Nicola, Andrea and Paolo Ruspini Objectives and Methodology of the Research In Cauduro Andrea, Andrea Di Nicola, Marco Lombardi, and Paolo Ruspini. Prostitution and Human Trafficking. Focus on Clients. Springer, New York. Di Nicola, Andrea, Andrea Cauduro, Marco Lombardi, and Paolo Ruspini How much? Uno studio pilota sulla domanda di prostituzione trafficata. Availabe on line: Holt, Thomas J. and Kristie R. Blevins Examining Sex Work from the Client s Perspective: Assessing Johns Using On-line Data. Deviant Behavior, 28: 333_354, McKeganey, Neil P. and Marina Barnard Sex Work on the Streets: Prostitutes and their Clients. Open University Press. Buckingham. O Connell Davidson, Julia Power, Prostitution, and Freedom. University of Michigan Press. Ann Arbor. O Neill, Maggie Prostitution and Feminism. London: Polity Press. Sharp, Keith and Earle, Sarah Cyberpunters and Cyberwhores: Prostitution on the Internet. In: Jewkes, Yvonne ed. Dot.cons: Crime, deviance and identity on the internet. Cullompton, UK: Willan,