PROSTITUTION IN THE EU - What’s the problem represented to be?

Abstract

This study presents perceptions of prostitution found in the legislation debate in the EU and in which way these affect the policy making by examining EU policy documents and the European Women Lobby’s statements on future prospects. To unveil the discourses and stigmas of prostitution and their effect feminist theories is a necessity. The feminist theories can be used to unwrap and understand the stigmas and discourses of prostitution and with the help of Carol Bacchi’s (2009) method of discourse analysis “What’s the problem represented to be?” the study develops an understanding for how we are governed. There are definitely traces of both the “whore” stigma and the “victim” stigma in the debate of prostitution legislation, reproduced by the discourse of victimization and the discourse of the happy prostitute, which shows that the governing has not been made completely objectively and the legislation also has spill over stigmas on the buyers believing that they will follow the national laws. Resulting in that the wants and needs of those affected by the legislation are being assumed by others out of stigmatization. However, despite the EU resolution the member states act alone on the matter and still have different legislation.