Prostitution: Frigörelse eller förtryck?

: En komparativ studie av attityder i Sverige och Nederländerna

Abstract

Prostitution is a multifaceted phenomenon that has engendered an ongoing debate regarding its classification as a criminal act. The Nordic model, as implemented in Sweden, criminalizes the person purchasing sex but does not treat the sex worker as a criminal. In contrast, the Netherlands have fully legalized and regulated prostitution. Previous research has indicated that factors such as gender, country of residence, and gender equality may influence attitudes towards prostitution. These factors were selected for exploration in this survey to observe if similar correlations would be found among groups of university students.
The aim of this study was to explore the attitudes of university students towards prostitution and compare whether these attitudes differed between students in Sweden and the Netherlands. To collect the data, a survey was distributed to university students in both countries, with a total of 594 students participating. The data was analyzed using mean comparisons, and the significance of the statistical relationships was tested through a t-test. The findings reveal a statistically significant relationship between gender and attitudes towards prostitution, as well as the country where the students study and their attitudes towards prostitution. No statistically significant relationship was found between gender equality and attitudes towards prostitution. In conclusion, attitudes towards prostitution vary, partially depending on laws and regulations.

Date of Award	2023-Jun
Original language	Swedish
Supervisor	Miguel Inzunza (Supervisor) & Joakim Thelander (Examiner)