Can voluntary prostitution be separated from forced prostitution? The public debate on prostitution frequently differentiates between voluntary prostitution and forced prostitution. The term sex work is used to emphasise a voluntary nature and independence.
In the public debate, a distinction is often made between voluntary prostitution and forced prostitution. Legally, the term forced prostitution is also clearly defined.
In our everyday work with women who have exited the industry, we experience that the boundaries are blurred and it is nearly impossible to separate these areas. We observe that the biographies of women in so-called independent prostitution often contain elements of coercion and violence—moments that shape their paths. Some start voluntarily and experience situations of exploitation and being “sold to others.” Others are introduced to prostitution through the Loverboy method, eventually manage to break free, but initially remain in prostitution for various reasons.
Based on our experience, many biographies alternate between moments of exploitation and moments of independent engagement in prostitution. Since leaving the industry is no easy feat, many women remain in the milieu independently, even after they have managed to free themselves from pimps.
…someone in a situation of poverty and lack of education sees no alternative of survival within their own family other than working the streets?
…someone regularly experienced sexual abuse during childhood and therefore internalised the feeling of being worthless and useful only for sex?
…someone is coerced into prostitution by a loverboy, eventually gets rid of him and then continues to prostitute themselves anyway because their self-perception was so damaged through the manipulation that they don’t see any other alternative?
…someone voluntarily enters prostitution but is heavily traumatised by the violence experienced and is unable to escape their situation?
We find that the women often experience different phases of prostitution: phases with exploitative pimps and phases without. Times when they are sold and times when they make their own decisions.
We are therefore convinced that it’s difficult to separate forced prostitution from voluntary prostitution. Both are co-dependent. Both take place in the same environment. We are not disputing the fact that some people prostitute themselves voluntarily. It’s more important to note that the lives of prostitutes frequently contain both elements and that the majority of prostitution in Germany takes place under forced conditions.
I find it such a shame how many women in the red-light district kill themselves because of their desperate situation. Well, I have lost four friends who killed themselves in the red-light district. Simply because they were afraid of their pimps.
[...] That’s why I think it should just be banned because I can confirm 99% that the women are not doing it voluntarily.
And each client that visits prostitutes in German brothels always thinks “well, the woman’s doing it voluntarily, she obviously wants to do it with me” – no, that’s not the case. Although the woman takes in the client, she’s still being raped each time. It’s psychological rape, even though you’re selling your body and people think “oh, that’s not so bad”, but it destroys their spirit.
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