In john forums, clients report openly and proudly about personal fetishes and what excites them sexually. They relate their fantasies to women in prostitution and report where they were able to pursue which fantasy. Why is there a problem here?
Wikipedia defines fetishes as follows: “Sexual fetishism is the exaggerated affection for individual body parts, body characteristics, items of clothing, utensils, materials or situations in which an object, the so-called fetish, serves as a stimulus for sexual arousal and satisfaction.” Other sources describe a fetish as an object fixation and that without the object, sexual satisfaction is hardly possible or not possible at all.
The john forums reveal questionable and borderline fantasies of johns
The fantasies described in the forums deal with sexism, racism and abuse of power. Women are treated like commodities, reduced to their origin and devalued as objects of desire. Refugee and homeless women are particularly affected – their helpless situation is unscrupulously exploited by clients.
Clients proudly report on “rape role plays” in which they humiliate and exploit women. For them, it is not just sex that counts, but the exercise of power over and the breaking of women.
The fetishes mentioned refer to violence, humiliation, rape fantasies and racist preferences, thereby reducing women to objects with certain physical characteristics that must be available for the fantasies of suitors.
Fetishes and preferences are fueled by pornography consumption and the easy availability of footage and actual women in prostitution creates the impression that violent fetishes are okay.
Can a fetish be bad if there are women who offer to fulfill it?
Why does common sense seem to stop in this area? As a society, we know that rape causes immense damage to people. In pornography, “rape” is a popular and sought-after category. In addition to real rape, we also see scripted films that combine pain, violence and humiliation with fake satisfaction. These themes are linked together in the consumer’s mind. The demand for rape play in prostitution is increasing. As there are enough women with the most precarious living conditions and emergencies in prostitution, men are finding out that they can also live out violent fantasies for enough money. But violence is still violence, even if money is involved. It is important that this type of violence is visible in our society and does not disappear under the guise of “voluntary prostitution”.
Violence against women is romanticized as a fetish and thus trivialized
Statistics on the normalization of violence in prostitution
Numerous scientific studies and reports document the systematic violence associated with prostitution. The following section looks at four key studies that provide shocking statistics on the normalization of violence.
1. TAMPEP report on sex work in Europe
The TAMPEP report (European Network for HIV/STI Prevention and Health Promotion among Migrant Sex Workers) is one of the most comprehensive studies on the situation of prostitutes in Europe. In particular, it sheds light on the experiences of migrant prostitutes, who are often victims of extreme violence. Key findings include:
70% of prostitutes in some European countries reported experiencing physical violence while working.
60-70% of migrant prostitutes have been victims of sexual violence while working, although these figures vary by region and legal status.
Lack of protection: Many of these prostitutes are unable to seek help or claim protection under the law due to their migrant status and the illegality of their work.
The report highlights that social stigmatization and legal frameworks in Europe often lead to violence against prostitutes being considered “part of the job”, which contributes to the normalization of this violence.
2. Study ” Johns and Prostitution” by Dr. Melissa Farley
Dr. Melissa Farley, a renowned researcher in the field of prostitution and sexual exploitation, has examined the attitudes of men who seek out prostitutes in her study “Johns and Prostitution”. Her results show how strongly violent pornography and prostitution influence the perception of sexual violence. The central findings are:
41% of the men surveyed accept rape myths, e.g. that women secretly enjoy or provoke rape.
Men who regularly consume violent pornography show a significantly increased risk of perceiving sexual violence as acceptable. These men tend to show less empathy towards the victims of rape.
68% of the clients surveyed stated that they had become more disinhibited in dealing with violent fantasies as a result of consuming pornography.
Farley’s study shows that violent depictions in pornography and the associated objectification of women increase the acceptance of violence and thus contribute to the normalization of sexual violence.
3. London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine: Violence in prostitution
Another major study has been conducted by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, looking at the violence faced by prostitutes worldwide. In this comprehensive study, prostitutes in various countries were surveyed and the results paint a shocking picture:
75% of prostitutes reported that they had experienced physical violence during their work.
50% of the women surveyed stated that they had been victims of sexual violence by clients.
Murder rate: Prostitutes have one of the highest murder rates of all occupational groups worldwide. The study shows that the probability of being murdered as a prostitute is up to 18 times higher than for women in other professions.
The study makes it clear that prostitution is not only an activity that is associated with a high risk of physical and psychological violence, but that this violence is often accepted as a systematic part of the sex industry.
4. Fondation Scelles: Report on forced prostitution and human trafficking
The Fondation Scelles, a French foundation dedicated to combating sexual exploitation, has published a comprehensive report on forced prostitution and human trafficking worldwide. According to this report:
Over 40 million people are victims of human trafficking worldwide, and the majority of these people are sexually exploited.
90% of women in forced prostitution experience violence during their “work”, be it physical, sexual or emotional.
In Europe, 85% of those working in prostitution are migrant women, who often work in extreme conditions and are victims of trafficking and forced prostitution.
The report emphasizes that forced prostitution and human trafficking must be considered not only on a national level, but also globally. Many of those affected come from poorer countries and are brought to richer countries where they are systematically exploited.
These studies and reports provide clear, scientifically based evidence that violence in prostitution and the normalization of such violence are deeply rooted in society. They show that violence is not just a by-product of the sex industry, but is often seen as an integral part of the system. The high number of incidents of violence, the lack of legal support and the normalization of these practices through pornography and social acceptance contribute to a culture in which sexual exploitation and violence are tolerated or even encouraged.
Awareness of these facts is the first step in taking effective action against the normalization of violence. Scientific findings such as those mentioned above show that urgent social changes are needed to combat this widespread violence.
🔗 Sources:
More studies on the topic of clients and demand:
Sex Buyers (“the demand”) | Prostitution Research & Education
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