International Journal of Economy, Management and Social Sciences, 3(1) January 2014, Pages: 6-10

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International Journal of Economy, Management and Social Sciences

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2306-7276

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The Effect of Some Social Factors on Tendency of Women to

Prostitution in Tehran City
Seddigheh Shafiei *1, Korosh Gholami Kootanai 2, Sepideh Setayesh Rad 3
1
2
3

M.S. in sociology, nonprofit institution of Alborz, Ghazvin, Iran.

Assistant professor, Faculty of Sociology, Golestan University, Gorgan, Iran.
M.S in Sociology, Faculty of Human Sciences, Science and Research University, Tehran, Iran.

AR TIC LE INF O

AB STR AC T

Keywords:

Study of prostitution in urban studies is of particular importance because of its rapid growth in
cities. This paper aims to study the effect of some social factors on the propensity of women for
prostitution in Tehran city. The current study is a cross-sectional survey. The used tool for data
collection is questionnaire. The study population is all 18 to 30 years old people living in Tehran
city. In this paper, by using Cochran formula, a sample size of 384 was calculated. Sampling
method for accessing studied samples, according to heterogeneous population of the city of Tehran,
is a multistage stratified random sampling. In this study we examined four variables of Educational
level, Social support, Social adjustment, and Adherence to religious beliefs. For testing the
correlation between independent variables and dependent variable, Pearson correlation coefficient
was used by applying SPSS software.The results showed that there were significant relationships
between three independent variables of Educational level, Social support, and Adherence to
religious beliefs and dependent variable of tendency to Prostitution (R= -0.731, -0.318, and -0.193,
respectively) but there was no significant relationship between Social adjustment and Tendency of
Tehranian women to prostitution. In order to investigate the relationship of total independent
variables with Tendency to prostitution as well as determining the extent to which the independent
variables are capable of explaining level of Tendency, and which one of them is a stronger
predictor, Stepwise Multiple regression analysis was conducted. Its results showed that Educational
level was the most influential factor.

Prostitution
Social support
Adherence
Education
Tehranian women

2014 Int. j. econ. manag. soc. sci. All rights reserved for TI Journals.

1.

Introduction

Today the city is a confusing array of restaurants and hotels, a beautiful and modern office buildings, airports, and etc., In addition to its
large population of immigrants, the poor and deprived people. Huge modern cities receive power and wealth and as well as endless
deprivation and misery. The adjacent neighborhood of lives of great riches, and favors as well as low livelihoods, becomes increasingly
obvious and evident in all cities of the world. Among the phenomena that have long existed in the cities is the phenomenon of
"prostitution". Prostitution as hazardous for human rights, the existence of different interpretations of the causes of this type of bias and
lack of serious legal and judicial barriers against sexually oppression of women by men implied its independent investigation. Today
prostitutes being victimized by any means, including individual, society, economy, and even external factors (advertising and Internet), are
trying to get their acquittal. This is indicative of the fact that one cannot simply study woman based on her guilty.
Researchers believe that the interaction among biological, psychological, social, economic, and etc., provide the basis for women to
prostitution. Among those in the social sciences all agree on the idea that there is no causal single social phenomenon. Even conflict
theorists also have realized their incomplete theory on claiming that economics is the total cause of all social phenomena. Prostitution can
be defined as having sex for money. [1]
Maknoun and Ataei Ashtiani (2005), According to Lerner, stated that "The Oldest Profession" includes the best and most widely accepted
definition for prostitution. In Ancient Babylonian civilization in Mesopotamia, workers and guards in temples, to please the gods and lords
religion, offered sexual services. According to the kind of gods, location, time, and place, this action was done in different ways, and the
same in the next period, prostitution was on business at or near the temples. Military conquest and enslavement of women, Caused
instrumental use of women and later their commercial use. In certain periods, such as the Napoleonic period, prostitutes, women were
generally distinguished and highly educated and men wish them.
The phenomenon of prostitution is a social problem whose consequences, In addition to family, covers individuals and society and on a
large scale, various aspects of economic, social and political. Control of street Women like any other problems, require accurate knowledge
of qualitative and quantitative aspects But in Iran, recognizing and dealing with this phenomenon is based solely on suppression on behalf
of campaign plans, and Cross maneuvers by The police and judicial authorities and institutions; Therefore, it is necessary that in the light of
scientific research and understanding of various aspects of crime and causes and roots of this social harm, We try to solve this problem. In
This regard, the present research work intends to evaluate the effect of some factors affecting the propensity to prostitution.

* Corresponding author.
Email address: Mrd_mm@yahoo.com

The Effect of Some Social Factors on Tendency of Women to Prostitution in Tehran City

Internat ional Jour nal of Economy, Mana ge ment and Social Sciences , 3(1) January 2014

1.2. Sociology of Prostitution in the cities

In the ancient world, most of those who were offered sexual services for economic income were maids. They often had high status in
traditional societies but the main aspect of modern prostitution is that women and their clients often do not know each other. Although
some men may become loyal customers, but the relationship is not primarily based on personal knowledge. Prostitution has a direct link
with the collapse of small communities and the development of large urban areas and commercial and impersonal social relations. In the
small traditional communities, sexual relationships are controlled by their visibility but in new urban areas more anonymous social bonds
are easily formed. There are male prostitutes as well. In San Francisco, 20 to 30 percent of prostitutes were male and they provide sexual
services to men and women. [4]
Although it is thought that prostitution of women are seen more in the lower classes of society, but this is the trump. It is believed that
poverty is a Primary factor explaining most of the sociological theories of deviance prostitution but we should know that prostitution has
always existed among all classes of society. Although in the higher classes, prostitution is done for fun and sexual pleasure, but is known as
a free of charge sex. This shows that prostitution should not necessarily be defined as having sex to make money. If lower-class women
in the street stop and expose themselves to the public it does not mean that the higher classes devoid of these matters. They, by using a
variety of communication channels and having a car, a house and support resources necessary to do this, are less in the public eye and thus
talking about this issue (prostitution). Today, the middle-class women have also joined in this work. Rising rates of divorce, or masses of
girls who cannot find jobs after graduation, start working at Massage centers and telephone sex services. [3]
Paul. J. Goldstein (1979) is classified types of prostitution based on the job and career commitment. Commitment means the frequency in
which a woman engages in prostitution. Many women are in prostitution temporarily. Occasional prostitutes" are the ones who often, but
not always, do it to increase income. In the second category are the ones who are constantly prostitution and their income is supplied in this
way. Field work means work environment, it is an iterative process that involved a woman. From this perspective, the prostitutes are
divided into several categories, street prostitutes, call girls, resident prostitutes generally work in private clubs, and massager prostitute
working where apparently only offer massage and recreation but actually offer sexual services.
The following can also be classified as prostitutes, a wide range of women that turn to prostitution because of economic poverty and lack of
job; Women who are drawn to it because of poverty and illiteracy, but not severe economic necessity; People who are forced involuntarily
drawn in this way, who are often victims of corruption networks; Those who voluntarily, and for private events, have underestimated their
abilities, skills and intelligence and see prostitution as a means to compensate; Women who ,in childhood, have faced with failure to
compete with others and lack of support and attention from parents, teachers and others; Women with disabilities and physical-mental
problems who merely are as means to quench momentary lust of men; women who have done this work from generation to generation,
having great confidence and easily accept it, and finally, Beautiful and intelligent women who prey the wealthy and influential men with
the motivation of earning money. This group includes the smallest class of prostitutes. Another group of prostitutes includes effective
characters such as artists, poets and political intellectuals. It is observed that prostitution involved a wide variety of people in which
economic need is not necessarily a reason for explaining their deviation.
1.2. The geographical distribution of the phenomenon of prostitution in the world
Prostitution around the world in the past few years, for various reasons, have been common. In Europe and the Soviet Union, thousands of
women and girls who were suffering from economic problems, were shipped prostitution. Belarus, Lithuania, Moldova, Russia, Ukraine,
and Eastern Europe have the largest market in Europe for prostitution as Russian and Ukrainian prostitutes today are the best and highest
price ones. In Southeast Asia, survivors of sexual services traditions to American soldiers in Vietnam, Today, have changed "sex tourism"
Industry to a booming industry in Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, Cambodia, Laos and other countries. Kenya and Nigeria in South Africa
are offering their women and Mexico, Brazil and Jamaica are good markets for North America. Of course Israel also is one of the great
centers of corruption such that 70% percent of women who turned into prostitution after collapse of Soviet Union, in Israel or by Israeli
brokers were engaged in prostitution. [4]
1.3. Prostitution in Iran
The phenomenon of prostitution in its new form was formed since the era of Muhammad Ali Shah in Tehran in a place today is called
Qazvin Gate. In the era of Reza Khan, the fear of syphilis infection led to the destruction of this place and then began operating in new
form as nightclubs. By bringing Polish women, rural women and the poor classes of other cities, this place changed into a suitable place to
promote prostitution; Opening of places for using opium sap, smuggling opium and dealing with it brought double deflection to these
places. The place later with walls and fort, became known as" Ghale-ye Shahr-e No (New City Castle). After the revolution and
untill1988, due to the special atmosphere of the holy war, the place had less activity until it was completely destroyed. After the destruction
of Ghale-ye Shahr-e No , thousands of prostitutes working there, were arrested and handed over Welfare Organization.
From the 70's onwards, this activity intensified in the form of street groups. Reference to Tehran is just because of lack of resources and
Findings about other cities and also because Tehran City is close to the center of Thoughts and Media. It is obvious that in the big cities of
Iran such as Isfahan, Mashhad, Tabriz, Shiraz and other cities, there is also prostitution. Geographical distribution of street women in big
cities and inconsistencies related to the concealment of their activities and Location and above all, joining a lot of new people to street
activities during each year makes it difficult to do research in this area. According to the statistics of Social Welfare organization, every
prostitute for standing on the street corner and finding a client requires only 5 minutes; thus, we realize that the situation in Iran is not better
than other countries. Increasing population, economic pressures, and anomic situation of society in Iran has caused prostitution to become a
business.
1.4. Sociological explanation of prostitution
Prostitution generally contains 3 different domains; in its socio- political domain, the subject of contempt for women, and the absence of
them, generally, in decision-Maker groups and organizations, and to summarize the status of women as commodities, is presented. In
cultural domain, Expansion of prostitution to cultural works and its obvious example i.e. Pornography and sexual audio-visual products are
considered. In the economic sphere, according to United Nations estimates, the economic benefit of sex industry has been $ 7-10 billion,
annually. It means, after drugs and arms trafficking, the third most profitable illegal trade is human trafficking. All these indicate that

Seddigheh Shafiei et al.

Int ernational Journal of Economy, Mana ge ment and Soci al Sci ences , 3(1) January 2014

prostitution is a universality phenomenon. Sociologists have presented several theories to explain this phenomenon. Those who were
influenced by private property theory of Engels, such as Lerner, believe that Prostitution is not a business but a special form of slavery and
the social classes, whereas someone such as Robin Gill that influenced by the view of Strauss, believes that prostitution is Because of
ethnicity and the marriage. He believes that the origin of prostitution in the history is ethnic systems that Women were exchanged between
families to stabilize social circles. generally, look of prostitution show that today's economy is the main cause of increased exploitation of
women, and its purpose is to raise capital in the economies of the world, So in achieving profitable interests, Victimization of human is a
normal thing. [4]
Feminization of poverty also is another factor affecting the Prostitution. Demir says: Global poverty and unequal distribution of income
and capital around the world, has heavily impacted Women. Of the world's 1.3 billion poor, Women and children constitute 70 percent of it.
Feminization of poverty is one the most important factors that bring women to trafficking gangs by their own will with the hope that
support his family financially and secure the economic future of his life. Agents of prostitution themselves after being on this way,
involvement in addiction, Infection of sexually transmitted diseases, and permanent exclusion and humiliated by men that have Good
grounds for bringing other people into the criminal charges, are also considered a prostitute. These women because of their extensive social
interaction are skilled anthropologists. [5]
Other factors that sociologists have pointed out is thriving sex tourism industry. These tourists that are mostly in tourism countries such as
Thailand, Brazil, Kenya, Jamaica and etc., Today, have became sex tourism as one of the factors pushing women into prostitution. Other
sociological theories about prostitution that have the ideas are theories of feminism. Liberal feminists, Based on the principles of Freedom
of John Stuart Mill and According to the separation of public and private spheres, with the slogan "a woman's body, a woman's right",
believe that as we need services such as plumbing, mechanical and etc. and in exchange of money we receive services, In Sex for money,
also, in exchange for a completely free trade agreement, women are exchanged for money.[8]
Prostitution is indicative of tendency and treating women as objects that can be used for sexual purposes and prostitution will also help turn
this trend to continue exploring. In fact, prostitution is a relationship of unequal power in sexual life. Prostitution is a means of satisfying
sexual desires of those with abnormal sexual desires that it will not be accepted by normal women. [3]

2.

Previous research

In the mid-1990s, the Internet was the best location for the proposed porn ads. In early September 1995, there were a number of 101,908
commercial centers in the internet that in about 72,706 of these centers, advertising sex industry was more than anything else. In 1996, the
Americans paid more than $ 9 billion for the videotapes, satellite programs, live shows, magazines, journals, and also computer programs
on the subject of Pornography. This amount is more than any type of business entertainment such as movies, music, and theater. This
amount is equal to repayment the loan of more than 20 countries. National Task Force on Prostitution Announced that there were over one
million women in the U.S. as prostitutes, the equivalent of 1 percent of U.S. women. In 1997, only the United States, through tens of
thousands of websites in one year, had a billion dollar income. [4]
Sharafatipour (2006), in a research focused on Characteristics of economic, social and family disruption violence of street prostitutes in
Tehran. The results of his studies on 150 street women of Tehran showed that Girls, from 12 to 17 years, are at risk of diversion. Most of
the first unlawful sexual contact was related to the ages of 13 and 14 years. His survey also showed that the age of prostitution is 14-15
years and 52% of these women, before reaching the legal age (18 years), were entered into the world of prostitution. The frequency of
sexual contacts of prostitutes varied from 1 to 30 times a week but, on average, every street woman on every week has 9 times sexual
contact. 74% of these people stated economic needs as one of Effective factors on prostitution, 85% of them had experienced drug and 68%
were addicts. In terms of family violence, 57% of them had been beaten at home and about 27.7 % had touched sexual abuse in their
family. Sharafatipour concluded that the lower age at first sexual intercourse and family violence, the more likely to be a street woman.
In another research, Owliaei Zand (2002b) studied the relationship between difficult marriage and tendency to prostitution and pointed to
other aspects of prostitution. His study conducted on 147 prostitute women or resident in Welfare Organization Resorts. The results showed
that Prostitutes in 22.5% of cases were suffered sexual harassment in childhood and often at ages of five years by their relatives and
especially their intimate. Most of these people believed that the lack of love by parents, especially mothers was their reason to escape the
family. 35% of them were forced to marry. In fact, one third of prostitutes probably were working to pay family costs or more likely, were
to provide Addiction costs of their fathers. 54% of their husbands were also addicted and 72% of the victims were beaten in their husband
family. As a result of this harassment, more than half of them did not enjoy sex with their husbands.
Scambler et al (1990) in their research studied the variable tendency to define western prostitutes as causal agents in the transmission and
spread of HIV/AIDS. They summarized the medical/epidemiological evidence against doing it. Also they discussed the impact of the AIDS
pandemic on prostitutes and their work. It was contended that the legal process continues to discriminate unjustly against women
prostitutes; that a 'double standard' of sexual morality persists; and that prostitute groups had articulated a clear response to law and
ideology, hinging on the de-criminalization of unforced adult prostitution. It was suggested that one likely consequence of decimalization
would be improved access to health education and care facilities, as relevant for the general health status of women workers as for STDs,
including AIDS.

3.

Research hypotheses
H1.
H2.
H3.
H4.

There was a significant relationship between education level and Tendency of respondents to prostitution.
There was a significant relationship between social support and Tendency of respondents to prostitution.
There was a significant relationship between Social adjustment and Tendency of respondents to prostitution.
There was a significant relationship between adherence to religious beliefs and Tendency of respondents to prostitution.

The Effect of Some Social Factors on Tendency of Women to Prostitution in Tehran City

Internat ional Jour nal of Economy, Mana ge ment and Social Sciences , 3(1) January 2014

4.

Research method

The current study is a cross-sectional survey. The used tool for data collection is questionnaire. In this research in order to evaluate social
support variable, the Social Support Questionnaire of Russell and Cutrona, and to assess social adjustment variable, California Test of
Personality were applied. The study population is all 18 to 30 years old people living in Tehran city. In this study, the data analysis is based
on inferential method. To test study hypotheses, inferential tests (Pearson correlation and Stepwise multiple regression analysis) have been
carried out by using SPSS software. In this paper, by using Cochran formula, a sample size of 384 was calculated with an error level of 5%
and a confidence level of 95%. To compensate for incomplete and unusable questionnaires, 400 questionnaires were distributed and 378
questionnaires were delivered.
Sampling method for accessing studied samples, according to heterogeneous population of the city of Tehran, is a multistage stratified
random sampling. Tehran has 22 regions and based on the population of each one and the areas of these regions, the sample size was
determined. First, the proportion of young people in all regions of Tehran was identified and the sample size was calculated for each
region. Second, the proportion of young people and the sample size was calculated for each area. In each area, odd even streets were
randomly selected and also in each street some houses are randomly selected based on their number.
To determine the validity of questionnaires, a pre-test was conducted in which 30 preliminary questionnaires were distributed among some
sampling people to be answered. During implementation and completion, accuracy of some items was identified and improvements were
taken in that, and some items were removed. To determine the validity of each scale, construct validity method was applied using factor
analysis method and reliability for each variable, was measured by Cronbach's alpha. Adequacy of sample size was determined by using
Bartlett's and KMO test (table 1). Since KMO, in all cases, is greater than 0.7, then the correlation between the data is suitable for factor
analysis. In addition, Cronbach's alpha is greater than 0.7 for all variables, so reliability is acceptable. chi square index of Bartlett's test of
sphericity for all constructs is 0.000 (p<0.001) which is statistically significant.

Table 1. Results of factor analysis and Cronbach's alpha coefficient of the research variables

5.

Dependent variable

KMO

Chi square
index

Explained
variance

Cronbach's
alpha

Social support

0.719

0.000

64.76

0.778

Social adjustment

0.816

0.000

39.18

0.916

Adherence to religious beliefs

0.783

0.000

69.45

0.792

Tendency to prostitution

0.936

0.000

61.86

0.738

Results and discussion

5.1. Testing hypotheses

For testing the correlation between independent variables and dependent variable, Pearson correlation coefficient was used by applying
SPSS software (Table 2).
Table 2. Pearson's correlation test results of research hypotheses
Dependent variable
Tendency to
prostitution

Independent variables
Social support
Adherence to religious beliefs
Educational level
Social adjustment

Pearson correlation
coefficient (R)
-0.318
-0.193
-0.731
0.0013

Sig.
0.004
0.03
0.000
0.069

According to the results, we can see that there is a significant correlation between Social support and tendency of respondents to
prostitution. As seen in table 2, R=-0.318 which shows an inverse correlation with low intensity. The significance level is 0.04, which
indicates that this relationship is significant (99%). This means that with increasing the level of social protection, the tendency to
prostitution will be reduced. Results also show that between Adherence to religious beliefs and tendency of respondents to prostitution, the
relationship is significant (95%). In this regard, R= -0.193 which shows an inverse correlation with low intensity, and sig. = 0.03.this means
with increasing respondents' adherence to religious beliefs, tendency to prostitution will be reduced.
Another variable is educational level. According to table 2, R=-0.731 which shows a strong correlation between the inverse range; sig. =
0.000 which indicates that the relationship between education level and Tendency of respondents to prostitution is significant (99%). This
means educational level of women of Tehran has a significant and inverse impact on their tendency to prostitution, and With increasing
levels of education, their tendency to prostitution will be reduced. The only hypothesis that is rejected is the correlation between Social
adjustment and Tendency of respondents to prostitution. According to the results, there is no significant relationship between them because
R=0.0013 which shows a very weak correlation, and significance level is 0.069 (p0.05).

Seddigheh Shafiei et al.

10

Int ernational Journal of Economy, Mana ge ment and Soci al Sci ences , 3(1) January 2014

5.2. Testing Effects of the independent variables

In order to investigate the relationship of total independent variables with Tendency to prostitution as well as determining the extent to
which the independent variables are capable of explaining level of Tendency, and which one of them is a stronger predictor, Stepwise
Multiple regression analysis was conducted. The results are shown in the table 3. Among the four independent variables in this study, three
variables of Educational level, Social support, and Adherence to religious beliefs were entered in the equation in order of effectiveness.
Table 3. Stepwise multiple regression analysis results of independent variables
Step

Predictor variables

ADJ. R2

Sig.T

Step 1

Educational level

0.099

0.692

-1.435

0.000

Step 2

Social support

0.135

0.384

-12.36

0.000

Step 3

Adherence to religious beliefs

0.237

0.196

-9.785

0.000

Sig.F

2.013

0.000

According to table 3, the first variable entered in the equation was variables of Educational level. This variable explained about 10% of
variance of the tendency to prostitution. In next step, variable of Social support was entered in the equation and explained about 13.5 % of
variance of dependent variable. Finally, variable of Adherence to religious beliefs explained 23.5% of variance. Totally, these three
variables explained 23.7% of the dependent variable (Adj.R2=0.237)

6.

Conclusion

What is certain is that a set of factors hand in hand together cause the individual to be a victim of prostitution, although it is not possible to
Lay down the rules, decisively, that can eradicate prostitution But we can take it down or keep at a minimal level. Some people believe that
, According social principle, since if we forbid human from something, he will be more greedy to it, Prostitution and sex should be free and
unrestricted; However, experience has shown that It not only has not reduced prostitution, but it also has increased. The aim of this study
was to investigate factors influencing tendency to prostitution in Tehran city. The results showed that there were significant relationships
between three independent variables of Educational level, Social support, and Adherence to religious beliefs and dependent variable of
tendency to Prostitution (R= -0.731, -0.318, and -0.193, respectively). The correlation coefficient of all three is negative, indicating an
inverse relation. With these descriptions, with higher levels of education, social support, and adherence to religious beliefs can tend to
reduce prostitution. There was no significant relationship between Social adjustment and Tendency of Tehranian women to prostitution.
Among the four independent variables in this study, three variables of Educational level, Social support, and Adherence to religious beliefs
were entered in the equation. Totally, these three variables explained 23.7% of the dependent variable (Adj.R2 =0.237). Since sex
trafficking and prostitution is a global phenomenon, Reaction against it must also be global. Governments should cooperate to exchange
information regarding trafficking gangs, Exchange of victims to get them to their native land, punishment of domestic and foreign
traffickers without any negligence and protect, and Housing, education and rehabilitation of victims. Unfortunately, in existing
international documents, the stage of prevention" is rarely considered while it should be considered. In this research we concluded that
Educational level, Social support, and Adherence to religious beliefs have a large impact on this social problem. Based on these findings,
preventive programs in economic, social and educational planning should be fully considered.

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