‘Why blame the girls’?: Contextual factors enabling juvenile prostitution in a Ghanaian metropolis

Abstract Framed by Urie Bronfenbrenners' (1979) ecological systems theory, this paper analyses the contextual factors that facilitate commercial sex work among adolescent girls in a metropolis in Ghana. Focusing on contextual factors rather than individual perspectives, we examined the backgrou...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Children & society 2023-11, Vol.37 (6), p.1933-1950
Main Authors: Oduro, Georgina Yaa, Amoah, John Oti
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent girls
Blame
Celebrations
Family conflict
Festivals
Funerals
Girls
Influence
Interviews
Peer influence
Poverty
Prostitution
Schools
Sex industry
Sex workers
Systems theory
Youth
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Summary:Abstract Framed by Urie Bronfenbrenners' (1979) ecological systems theory, this paper analyses the contextual factors that facilitate commercial sex work among adolescent girls in a metropolis in Ghana. Focusing on contextual factors rather than individual perspectives, we examined the background of minors involved in sex trade by interviewing 15 juvenile prostitutes (aged 14–17) and several key stakeholders. We explored factors that cause them to engage in prostitution, such as dysfunctional family systems, peer and sibling influence, inadequate accommodation, media influence and fashionable trends, as well as poverty and survival dynamics. An innovative discovery presented in this paper is the strong presence of schools, and resultant young people, as well as tourist attractions and cultural celebrations such as festivals and funerals as drivers of juvenile prostitution in the study site. The paper concludes by recommending a multi‐sectoral approach to addressing juvenile prostitution challenges.
ISSN:0951-0605
1099-0860
DOI:10.1111/chso.12682