THE SOCIO–ECONOMIC FACTORS AND EFFECTS OF PROSTITUTION IN NIGERIA

THE SOCIO–ECONOMIC FACTORS AND EFFECTS OF PROSTITUTION IN NIGERIA

ABSTRACT

 

This paper deals with the problem of prostitution in Ojoo community Ibadan Nigeria. The main objective of the study is to identify the socio economic factors and condition that are associated with the profession. It is an attempt to study socio economic background, pattern of establishment, social organization and modes of operation of the prostitutes with a view to suggesting effective ways of reducing prostitution. A cross-sectional survey design was adopted for the study. A total of 150 prostitutes form the sample of the study. Multi-stage sampling technique involving cluster and simple random sampling methods were used to select the respondents. The major instrument for data collection was the interview. Descriptive statistics such as frequency tables and percentages were used in analyzing the data collected. The findings revealed that the driving force behind prostitution is economic gain. Prostitutes are found to have pathological problems at their backgrounds and the social relations amongst them are based on primordial pattern. Prostitution has both the positive and negative effects. Considering the fact that all attempts at legislation throughout history have not succeeded in eradicating prostitution, this paper calls for urgent steps toward the reduction of prostitution in the country. Such steps include the provision of job opportunities, public enlightenment, reformation and rehabilitation programmes, provision of facilities for recreation, sports and cultural activities, formal education of the illiterate and unskilled prostitutes and the introduction of sex education in the curriculum of secondary schools and tertiary institutions.

 

INTRODUCTION

 

Clinard (1968; 371-387) argues that prostitution is a deviant behavior - a manifestation of a state of anomie in which society fails to provide certain opportunities for individuals to achieve the goals set by the institutions of the society. He argues further that prostitutes have a separate subculture with norms and values that are directly opposed to that of the larger society to the extent that they often run foul of the laws of the society. The prostitute’s subculture is usually characterized by secrecy, stigma, and intense occupational involvement and difficulties in leaving the profession. Its ties with criminal underworld leave the prostitute open to harassment not only from police but from other prostitutes and other members of the criminal population.

 

In line with these views, Thomas (1980) posited that women enter prostitution because of pathological problems at their backgrounds – a broken home, parental death or neglect, separation of parents, maladjustment or emotional disturbance that are conducive to prostitution and other deviant behaviors. Samir (1965) argues that ecological factors such as urbanization and migration (movements or change of residence) may easily engender the necessary conditions often associated with prostitution. He argues that prostitution must be explained and interpreted within the context of the decline in kinship, conflict between institutions, secularism, disorganization, mobility and anomie which to a great extent determine the main features of any society undergoing change.

 

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