Transformation of Prostitution Services and Stigma Against Prostitutes (WTS)

Abstract

The advances in digital technology have encouraged providers of prostitution to move from conventional prostitution to cyber prostitution. This transformation also creates opportunities and threats for WTS when they are active in prostitution business practices. Although the vehicle for WTS practice has changed, the stigma against WTS continues to grow and is even more varied. This study comprehensively describes the conditions of the WTS social environment, including cases regarding the personal condition of WTS and the growing stigma against WTS, the transformation ofprostitution services in the digital era, and how the social resilience of WTS in the business. This article is descriptive. The research method used is a literature review. In this study, it was found that in their daily work activities, WTS often experience stigmatization and threats of environmental violence. The stigma obtained has had an impact on the emergence of post-traumatic stress so that the mental health of WTS is disturbed. Another finding is that the transformation of prostitution services from conventional to cyber in fact, not only makes WTS receive stigma directly but also gets stigmatized through cyber media. For WTS to survive while transforming prostitution, they need the ability to manage and optimize their social capital to be resilient and develop in the environment. It is hoped that this article can be used as an input for policymaking, especially for the empowerment and prevention program for WTS in cyber prostitution based on good practices and findings from studies that have been carried out.

Keywords

• social capital
• stigma
• cyber prostitution
• prostitute women