Cracking Down on the Customers: Complexities of End Demand Prostitution Discourse, Policies, and Policing

• In Event: 066 - Section on Political Sociology Roundtables (one-hour)
  In Refereed Roundtable: Table 05. Politics of Gender

Abstract

Traditionally, policing prostitution has focused more on arresting sex workers than clients. A contemporary trend exists globally supporting end demand prostitution discourse, policies, and policing. End demand is focused on criminalizing and further cracking down on clients. Types of end demand practices can vary, from policies that criminalize the customers without criminalizing people working as prostitutes to policies criminalizing both the sale and purchase of sexual services, with increased emphasis on further criminalizing or cracking down on the demand side.

This presentation will focus on the discourse guiding the development and implementation of such policies and policing, as well as discourse from opponents. Furthermore, the presentation will address the implications of such policies and policing, and why this trend is expanding.

Author

• Holly Pottle, Texas Woman's University