Report details obstacles facing those getting out of prostitution

Women trying to get out of prostitution face multiple barriers, including problems accessing other work, drug and alcohol addiction, low education and not having supports to leave, a new report has found.

The Next Step Initiative report, published yesterday by the Ruhama organisation which works with women in the sex industry, calls for legislative changes to criminalise men who "prostitute" women.

The report, the first of its kind in Ireland, is based on ongoing interviews with 19 Irish prostitutes over a 14-month period. It looks at the reasons women get involved in prostitution, the factors keeping them there and puts forward a model of support "for women involved in prostitution in order to facilitate them as they take the next step" out of the activity.

The author of the report, Kerry Lawless, said all the women spoke of how difficult it was to get out of prostitution once "entangled" in it. She said the myth that prostitution was a form of consensual sex had to be "exploded".

"Prostitution is primarily a means of survival rather than a choice. For some it was a way to finance a drug habit or avoid a beating from a pimp. For others it was a 'quick fix', a means of clearing a debt, saving for a deposit," she said. "They described how they saw prostitution as a short-term solution but found themselves trapped as it became part of their day-to-day existence."

In terms of finding ways out, many women said they did not know where to turn for advice, they had no "employment history" when seeking work and also pointed to a lack of childcare, housing and drug service policies as barriers.

All but two of the women had experienced high levels of violence. They spoke of being raped, beaten up and having limbs broken.

They also described trying to emotionally detach themselves from what they were doing; eg, by not making eye contact with clients and not kissing them.

One said: "I'm still frightened even though I don't show it. I had to hide it since I was a kid. If you open your mouth you're going to get killed."

However, the report continues, the woman also described how impossible it was to achieve any real separation. One spoke of having to drink to forget what she had been engaged in and how boyfriends beat her up. Others spoke of taking drugs and drink "to work and to numb the pain".

One, quoted yesterday by Ms Lawless, spoke of her anger at herself and her situation, and of how she would lash out at her boyfriend, who would "hit me back". Others who had got out of prostitution spoke of the flashbacks and the continuing trauma.

At yesterday's publication, a woman, who described herself as having been "in the industry", said those involved were "getting younger and younger".

"They are being introduced to it through addiction, by the older crowd. It's like a drug - a quick way to make a quick buck. And it's a lack of self-esteem and it's very sad to see. I see a lot of sadness," she said.