Citation

Jovanovski N, Tyler M. Violence Against Women 2018; 24(16): 1887-1908.

Affiliation

1 RMIT University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/1077801218757375

PMID

29546803

Abstract

In this article, we use feminist critical discourse analysis to examine online brothel reviews (148 reviews and 2,424 reply posts) of sex buyers in the context of debates surrounding harm minimization. Our findings show that sex buyers actively construct and normalize narratives of sexual violation and violence against women in licensed brothels through their language, referencing objectification, unsafe sex practices, and, in more extreme cases, rape to create a sense of community with other punters. Through this analysis, we challenge existing assumptions about harm minimization in systems of prostitution, which are legalized or fully decriminalized.

Language: en

Keywords

feminist critical discourse analysis; harm minimization; prostitution; punters; sex buyers