A case study on sexual attachment among women who got out of prostitution

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to examine the emotional and sexual attachment among women who got out of prostitution and had been in a women’s shelter. The data are collected by in-depth interview, participant observation, and document reviews over 10 months period and analysed by case study method.BR The findings are as follow: First, although their rights were violated by male, women who have escaped from prostitution still develop emotional and sexual relationships with many other men; they actively search for romantic or sexual experience, and demonstrate self-giving attitudes toward their male partners. Second, subjects commonly experienced attachment problems with family, and they were often sexually assaulted by close people in their childhood. Third, since subjects’ prostitution experience also affected their sexual attachment, they tend to have more open attitude toward sex. Subjects engage in sexual behaviors more easily and recklessly, and would not refuse their sexual partners’ requests.BR Based on the results, the study makes few suggestions including support system for empowerment, healthy relationships with persons, individualized program appropriate for women, and cooperation system for preventing prostitution.