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"I can't carry on like this": a feminist perspective on the process of exiting sex work in a South African context
This study aims to look at the challenges faced by women of low socio-economic status in exiting sex work, in a South African context where gender-based violence is normalized and widespread. In doing so, this research applies principles of feminist theory to create a contextualized understanding of...
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| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English |
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Department of Psychology
2014
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| _version_ | 1867614368941735936 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author | Hakala, Suvi Keller, Marike |
| author_browse | Hakala, Suvi Keller, Marike |
| author_facet | Hakala, Suvi Keller, Marike |
| author_sort | Hakala, Suvi |
| collection | Thesis |
| dc_rights_str_mv | Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International Knowledge Co-op http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/ |
| description | This study aims to look at the challenges faced by women of low socio-economic status in exiting sex work, in a South African context where gender-based violence is normalized and widespread. In doing so, this research applies principles of feminist theory to create a contextualized understanding of the process of exit. Two focus groups, with a total of 18 non-transgendered women were conducted in an informal setting, resulting in an open-ended discussion around these challenges. These interviews were recorded, transcribed and analyzed using thematic analysis. The categories and themes emerging from this analysis were past trauma, motherhood, partnerships, social support, economic necessity, employment and gossip. These themes are permeated by a pattern of escapism. This pattern exemplifies their disempowerment and lack of agency, which is symptomatic of the gender oppression pervading their lives. The results of this research will be used to draw up a policy in collaboration with the NGO Embrace Dignity, for parliament, to initiate legal reform relating to sex work. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/2683 |
| institution | University of Cape Town (South Africa) |
| language | eng |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:50:56.610Z |
| license_str | Creative Commons |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from UCTD — University of Cape Town Open Access Repository |
| publishDate | 2014 |
| publishDateRange | 2014 |
| publishDateSort | 2014 |
| publisher | Department of Psychology |
| publisherStr | Department of Psychology |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | UCTD — University of Cape Town Open Access Repository |
| spelling | oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/2683 "I can't carry on like this": a feminist perspective on the process of exiting sex work in a South African context Hakala, Suvi Keller, Marike sex work challenges exiting gender oppression feminist theory This study aims to look at the challenges faced by women of low socio-economic status in exiting sex work, in a South African context where gender-based violence is normalized and widespread. In doing so, this research applies principles of feminist theory to create a contextualized understanding of the process of exit. Two focus groups, with a total of 18 non-transgendered women were conducted in an informal setting, resulting in an open-ended discussion around these challenges. These interviews were recorded, transcribed and analyzed using thematic analysis. The categories and themes emerging from this analysis were past trauma, motherhood, partnerships, social support, economic necessity, employment and gossip. These themes are permeated by a pattern of escapism. This pattern exemplifies their disempowerment and lack of agency, which is symptomatic of the gender oppression pervading their lives. The results of this research will be used to draw up a policy in collaboration with the NGO Embrace Dignity, for parliament, to initiate legal reform relating to sex work. 2014-07-28T07:42:43Z 2014-07-28T07:42:43Z 2011 Thesis http://hdl.handle.net/11427/2683 eng Knowledge Co-op project #6. Exit strategies for prostituted women Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International Knowledge Co-op http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/ application/pdf Department of Psychology Faculty of Humanities University of Cape Town |
| spellingShingle | sex work challenges exiting gender oppression feminist theory Hakala, Suvi Keller, Marike "I can't carry on like this": a feminist perspective on the process of exiting sex work in a South African context |
| title | "I can't carry on like this": a feminist perspective on the process of exiting sex work in a South African context |
| title_full | "I can't carry on like this": a feminist perspective on the process of exiting sex work in a South African context |
| title_fullStr | "I can't carry on like this": a feminist perspective on the process of exiting sex work in a South African context |
| title_full_unstemmed | "I can't carry on like this": a feminist perspective on the process of exiting sex work in a South African context |
| title_short | "I can't carry on like this": a feminist perspective on the process of exiting sex work in a South African context |
| title_sort | i can t carry on like this a feminist perspective on the process of exiting sex work in a south african context |
| topic | sex work challenges exiting gender oppression feminist theory |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/11427/2683 |
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