Assessment On Causes And Effect Of Commercial Sex Work Among Female Youth

Project and Seminar Material for Sociology

Abstract

This study was carried out to assess the causes and effect of commercial sex work among female youth using selected hotels in Lagos State as a case study. The study specifically was aimed to assess the prevalence of commercial sex work among female youth in Lagos State, Nigeria, assess the causes of commercial sex work among female youth in Lagos State, Nigeria, assess the effect of commercial sex work among female youth in Lagos State, Nigeria, and proffer recommendation to aid the effective reduction of commercial sex work in Nigeria. The survey design was adopted and the simple random sampling techniques were employed in this study. The population size comprised of young female adult in selected hotels in Lagos State. In determining the sample size, the researcher purposefully selected 147 respondents and 141 were validated. Self-constructed and validated questionnaire was used for data collection. The collected and validated questionnaires were analyzed using frequency tables, and mean scores. While the hypotheses was tested Chi-square statistical tool. The result of the findings reveals that the causes of commercial sex work among female youth in Lagos State, Nigeria includes: payment for education, family background, unemployment, and personal life style. Furthermore, the study revealed that commercial sex work has a negative effect among female youth in Lagos State, Nigeria as it leads to being sexually assaulted, post traumatic stress disorder, being infected with STI, social discrimination, lost of esteem, frequent abortion, and suicide attempts. Therefore, it is recommended that parents also should not neglect their role of providing financial support, continuous counseling and monitoring of their children especially their source of income. To mention but a few.

Table of Content

Title Page
Certification
Dedication
Acknowledgement
Table of Content
List of Tables
Abstract

Chapter One:

Introduction

1.1 Background of the Study
1.2 Statement of the Problem
1.3 Objective of the Study
1.4 Research Questions
1.5 Research Hypothesis
1.6 Significance of the Study
1.7 Scope of the Study
1.8 Limitation of the Study
1.9 Definition of Terms
1.10 Organisations of the Study

Chapter Two:

Review of Literature

2.1 Conceptual Framework
2.2 Theoretical Framework
2.3 Empirical Review

Chapter Three:

Research Methodology

3.1 Research Design
3.2 Population of the Study
3.3 Sample Size Determination
3.4 Sample Size Selection Technique and Procedure
3.5 Research Instrument and Administration
3.6 Method of Data Collection
3.7 Method of Data Analysis
3.8 Validity of the Study
3.9 Reliability of the Study
3.10 Ethical Consideration

Chapter Four:

Data Presentation and Analysis

4.1 Data Presentation
4.2 Analysis of Data
4.3 Answering Research Questions
4.4 Test of Hypotheses

Chapter Five:

Summary, Conclusion and Recommendation

5.1 Summary
5.2 Conclusion
5.3 Recommendation
REFERENCES
APPENDIX
QUESTIONNAIRE

Chapter One

Introduction

1.1 Background to the Study

Prostitution is commonly conceptualised as a practise of having sexual relations in exchange for economic gain (Wood, 2001) and it is one of the branches of the sex industry. Commercial sex is a world’s oldest profession that involves practice of engaging in sexual activity with individuals other than a spouse or friend in exchange for immediate payment in money or other valuables (Mansson, 2008; Sanger & William, 1999). Prostitution had been in existence since around 300 B.C and found nearly everywhere including place of worships (Shahid, et al, 2013). It was a culture in certain places like Cyprus where women had to be a prostitute at least once to a stranger (Benjamin, 1964). Taylor and Jamieson (1999) argued that sex industry work on the basis of the principles of supply and demand as other industries. Prostitution market gained the attention of economists due to the incredible amount of resources that it attracts. The person who receives payment for sexual services is called a prostitute or commercial sex worker (Mansson, 2008). Contributions by economists to this field include Edlund and Korn, (2002); Cameron, (2002); Cameron and Collins, (2003) etc. These studies shared the assumptions that the object of the commercial sex transaction is sex, and that prostitution is one of the possible ways in which women supply sex to men. The 18th century was called ‘’The Golden Age of Prostitutes’’ because many places were established where people could get training to start professional life as commercial sex worker.

Several factors have been given for women adoption of prostitution and these could be voluntary and involuntary (UNESCO, 2002). The voluntary factors includes poverty, hunger, economic crisis, family pressure, illness etc. While the involuntary factors include force like trafficking, coercion, kidnapping, and being deceived. In India, it has been observed that sex work is largely involuntary and some women joined knowingly due to economic issue (Nag, 2006; Blanchard et.al., 2005). Wawer et al., (1996) argued that domestic responsibilities, economic crisis and lack of household economy forced women to involve in prostitution. Majority of women in sex work were found to be illiterates, belong to lower castes, lives in slum and from poor economic backgrounds (Ramesh et al., 2008; USAID, 2003; Hong and Li, 2008). Also, domestic violence, coercion, threats and deception, interpersonal network influence and adult peer association leads women getting into sex work (Dalla, 2001; Busza, 2004; Dalla, 2001).

In Nigeria, sex work is noticeable to be in the rise in Nigeria and the most common places where sex workers are found include brothels, hotels, motor parks and busy streets. Particularly in large cities like Lagos, Port Harcourt, Oshogbo, Kano, Uyo etc. It is also common knowledge that young female adults use sex-work to earn income and for sustenance. Nevertheless, the hard economic situation faced by the unemployed may have been one of the reasons for the steady rise of the trend; this speaks volume and has policy implications for the handlers of governance.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

Evidences have shown large number of young girls thrive and make a living on the streets as commercial sex workers in Nigeria. More so, prostitution industry keeps increasing in Nigeria with more intakes and females who are already in the industry and continues to encourage the young girls into the industry. The preponderance of female prostitution has become a serious social problem. Factors such as poverty, unemployment, family breakdown, lack of parental upbringing, peer pressure group among others have been adduced for this phenomenon in Nigeria (Oyeoku, 2012). Most prostitutes have encountered at least one of these problems, and many have experienced them in combination.

Furthermore, there is a high health risk in prostitution owing to the fact that sex workers are considered to be the main source of sexually transmitted diseases such as syphilis, herpes, HIV/AIDS which can have negative spillover effects on the society (Oyeoku, 2012). More so, prostitution is associated with physical and psychological injury in Nigeria, such as the spread of HIV/AIDS, other (STD), drug addiction, unwanted pregnancy, crimes, cultural and religious confusion, and behavioral changes. Despite the adverse effects, women and adolescent continue and increasingly involve in commercial sex. In view of the above, this study seek to examine the causes and effect of commercial sex work among female youth.

1.3 Objectives of the Study

The main study objective is to assess the causes and effect of commercial sex work among female youth. While the specific objectives of the study include;

Assess the prevalence of commercial sex work among female youth in Lagos State, Nigeria.
Assess the causes of commercial sex work among female youth in Lagos State, Nigeria.
Assess the effect of commercial sex work among female youth in Lagos State, Nigeria.
Proffer recommendation to aid the effective reduction of commercial sex work in Nigeria.

1.4 Research Questions

The study will be guided by the following questions;

What is the prevalence of commercial sex work among female youth in Lagos State, Nigeria?
What are the causes of commercial sex work among female youth in Lagos State, Nigeria?
What are the effect of commercial sex work among female youth in Lagos State, Nigeria?

1.5 Research Hypothesis

Ho: Commercial sex work has no significant negative effect on female youths in Nigeria.
Ha: Commercial sex work has a significant negative effect on female youths in Nigeria.

1.6 Significance of the Study

This significance of the study tends to treat both the theoretical and practical importance. Theoretically, this study will add to the already, existing knowledge of the causes and effects of commercial sex work among young girls in Nigeria. Moreso, the study will be a guide to future researchers in their research in knowing the causes and effects of commercial sex work and look for means of tackling those problems.

Practically, this research work will enable the commercial sex workers to know the dangers surrounding their work, so as to stop the rising wave of sex work. This can be done by the government to make sure of creating employed youths. This study will also help in exposing and tracking down the people behind sex work.

1.7 Scope of the Study

This study is structured to generally examine the causes and effect of commercial sex work among female youth. Geographically, the study will be carried out in selected hotels in Lagos State.

1.8 Limitation of the Study

Like in every human endeavour, the researcher encountered slight constraints while carrying out the study. Insufficient funds tend to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature, or information and in the process of data collection, which is why the researcher resorted to a limited choice of sample size. More so, the researcher simultaneously engaged in this study with other academic work. As a result, the amount of time spent on research will be reduced.

1.9 Definition of Terms

Sex:

Is an erotic attraction between two people or sexual intercourse that can lead to orgasm in female and the secretion of semen from the penis in male.

Commercial Sex:

This is defined basically as sex for money.

Sex Work:

This is defined as any sexual performance carried out by a person for payment of certain amount of money or in exchange of any material thing. Their aim is mainly on money making.

Sex Worker:

This is a person who works in the sex industry. They are paid to engage in sexually explicit behaviour which involves varying degrees of physical contacts etc.

1.10 Organization of the Study

This research work is organized in five chapters, for easy understanding, as follows.

Chapter one is concern with the introduction, which consist of the (overview, of the study), historical background, statement of problem, objectives of the study, research hypotheses, significance of the study, scope and limitation of the study, definition of terms and historical background of the study.
Chapter two highlights the theoretical framework on which the study is based, thus the review of related literature.
Chapter three deals on the research design and methodology adopted in the study.
Chapter four concentrate on the data collection and analysis and presentation of finding.
Chapter five gives summary, conclusion, and recommendations made of the study.

Chapter Five

Summary, Conclusions and Recommendations:

5.1 Introduction

This chapter summarizes the findings on the causes and effect of commercial sex work among female youth using selected hotels in Lagos State as a case study. The chapter consists of summary of the study, conclusions, and recommendations.

5.2 Summary of the Study

In this study, our focus was to assess the causes and effect of commercial sex work among female youth using selected hotels in Lagos State as a case study. The study specifically was aimed to assess the prevalence of commercial sex work among female youth in Lagos State, Nigeria, assess the causes of commercial sex work among female youth in Lagos State, Nigeria, assess the effect of commercial sex work among female youth in Lagos State, Nigeria, and proffer recommendation to aid the effective reduction of commercial sex work in Nigeria.

The study adopted the survey research design and randomly enrolled participants in the study. A total of 141 responses were validated from the enrolled participants where all respondents are young female adult in selected hotels in Lagos State.

5.3 Conclusions

Based on the findings of this study, the researcher made the following conclusion.

The prevalence of commercial sex work among female youth in Lagos State, Nigeria is high.
The causes of commercial sex work among female youth in Lagos State, Nigeria includes: payment for education, family background, unemployment, and personal life style.
Commercial sex work has a negative effect among female youth in Lagos State, Nigeria as it leads to being sexually assaulted, post traumatic stress disorder, being infected with STI, social discrimination, lost of esteem, frequent abortion, and suicide attempts.

5.4 Recommendations

Based on the findings of the study, the following recommendations are proffered.

Government should endeavor to provide legitimate jobs to our teaming graduates especially the young girls
Parents also should not neglect their role of providing financial support, continuous counseling and monitoring of their children especially their source of income.
There is need for Gender Based NGOs, Religious organizations, and political office holders to empower and support women and young girls both financially and educationally (through scholarship) in order to make them self-reliant. There is also the need to rehabilitate those caught in the web of this trade.
More efforts should be intensified by the law enforcement agencies especially the police in identifying and apprehending hotels and brothel owners (third party prostitution businessmen) promoting sex work in the state.
Advocacy and campaigns on moral upbringing should be vigorously pursuit to instill the moral values in our young girls and our youths in general

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