The gender-based violence and domestic violence social workers' position vis-à-vis the issue of prostitution

Abstract

The thesis aims to look into how social workers perceive the issue of prostitution. In Malta, the ongoing debate revolves around whether prostitution is a form of violence against women. As a result, the author interviewed social workers in domestic violence (DV) and gender-based violence units (GBV) because they directly work with victims of gender-based violence. The researcher used a qualitative method to interview six social workers to understand the subject comprehensively. The findings achieved through conducting interviews and then analysed using thematic analysis propose that various factors contribute to women being forced into prostitution, such as being groomed or sexually abused as a child, being homeless, having an addiction, suffering from mental health problems, being in a power and control relationship, and being in a domestic violent environment. That said, women in prostitution (WIP) cannot be considered to have made a free choice, even in the absence of a pimp, as they are compelled to remain in prostitution due to various factors. Additionally, findings show that professionals lack resources and are not trained to work effectively and guide WIP. Despite that, social workers continue to offer their support to WIP, as seen in the interventions focused on safety planning and precautions, particularly concerning sexual health. The legislation does not protect WIP; instead, it criminalises WIP by amending the legislation based on the Nordic model. Thus, in the end, the author revealed numerous recommendations for professionals, including policymakers and social workers, who lack experience in the area of prostitution and thus need more training to enhance their knowledge in dealing with WIP.