TY - JOUR
T1 - 'Looking back, I don't quite recognise myself'
T2 - Narratives of the past in prostitution
AU - Henriksen , Theresa Dyrvig
AU - Järvinen, Margaretha
PY - 2023/5/11
Y1 - 2023/5/11
N2 - This paper uses George Herbert Mead’s theory on time and the self in an analysis of qualitative interviews with sex sellers in Denmark. We show how exit from prostitution is associated with a gradual change of participants’ conceptions of commercial sex, bringing them in alignment with a ‘social problems’ approach to prostitution. From being conceptualised as a predominantly positive phenomenon, associated with ‘easy money’, power/self-affirmation and thrill, prostitution becomes a predominantly negative phenomenon, associated with ‘hard-to-earn-money’, subordination and repulsion. When transforming their conceptions of commercial sex, participants take over the view on prostitution that is dominant in Danish society – a view that defines commercial sex as inherently problematic and sex sellers as a ‘vulnerable group’ in need of rescue.
AB - This paper uses George Herbert Mead’s theory on time and the self in an analysis of qualitative interviews with sex sellers in Denmark. We show how exit from prostitution is associated with a gradual change of participants’ conceptions of commercial sex, bringing them in alignment with a ‘social problems’ approach to prostitution. From being conceptualised as a predominantly positive phenomenon, associated with ‘easy money’, power/self-affirmation and thrill, prostitution becomes a predominantly negative phenomenon, associated with ‘hard-to-earn-money’, subordination and repulsion. When transforming their conceptions of commercial sex, participants take over the view on prostitution that is dominant in Danish society – a view that defines commercial sex as inherently problematic and sex sellers as a ‘vulnerable group’ in need of rescue.
KW - Faculty of Social Sciences
KW - Sex sellers
KW - prostitution exit
KW - self and time
KW - George Herbert Mead
KW - narrative change
KW - qualitative interviews
U2 - 10.1177/13634607231174536
DO - 10.1177/13634607231174536
M3 - Journal article
JO - Sexualities
JF - Sexualities
SN - 1363-4607
ER -