At present, Russia is increasingly raising the question of changing the approach to regulating prostitutional relations. Politicians and representatives of social movements speak out that the approach used in the country is not up to date and advocate the legalization of prostitution. Unfortunately, statements and legislative initiatives are not based on an understanding of the realities of the prostitution sphere, as well as scientific data.
In this connection, a study was conducted that set out to determine the actual situation of prostitutes in Russian society. This article presents the results of a survey that allowed us to identify stratification groups of prostitutes, to give their social characteristics and the presence of discriminatory practices. Identify areas of interpenetration of prostitution and other sex industry activities. Particular attention was paid to the study of the existence of organizational structures and the professionalization of prostitutional relations.
The data presented indicate that the prostitutional sphere of Russia is characterized by business features. At the same time, despite the awareness of the choice of prostitutional activity, only a part identify themselves with prostitutes.
All report stigma and a high risk of violence. Many perceive prostitution as a temporary and forced type of activity, and not as a profession.
The data obtained indicate the unpreparedness of Russian society and prostitutes themselves for the professionalization of prostitution. Keywords: Prostitution sex industry the legalization of prostitution discriminatory practices the professionalization of prostitution. Over the past decades, opposing trends have been observed in society, affecting prostitution as a form of activity and prostitutes. On the one hand, the trends towards the global spread of neoliberalism have led to the fact that economic benefits have become predominant in addressing the issues of interaction between the state, society and private individuals Gall, Thus, the size and scope of the commercial sexual economy, although difficult to determine, due to many reasons, including criminalization, the secrecy of transactional sexual exchanges and various types of sex services Dewey, , p.
