Intimacy in female sex workers (FSWs): Money, feelings, and commitment

Authors

  • I Kadek Wahyu Pujhana Department of Psychology, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Udayana, Indonesia
  • David Hizkia Tobing Department of Psychology, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Udayana, Indonesia
  • Made Diah Lestari Department of Psychology, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Udayana, Indonesia
https://doi.org/10.24854/jpu542

Keywords:

female sex workers (FSWs), intimacy, prostitution

Abstract

Studies about female sex workers (FSWs) are usually highlighted at the macro level and within the economic, health, and social perspectives. There is plausible research about the emotional aspects of this group. Emotional aspects, especially intimacy that becomes the focus of this study is sometimes marginalised from the literature about FSWs. Previous studies on this arena found that FSWs experienced difficulties in setting boundaries between personal and commercial sex. The studies mostly associated intimacy with sexual and reproductive health; none of the studies captured intimacy as an emotional entity that attaches to FSWs as human beings. This study was a phenomenology study, using semi-structure interviews with five FSWs in Bali. Data were analysed using theoretical coding and found three components of intimacy, namely money, feelings, and commitment. The interplay among these components created seven types of intimacy. The findings are expected to contribute to the psychological aspects of prostitution. 

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Published

2022-11-30

How to Cite

Pujhana, I. K. W., Tobing, D. H., & Lestari, M. D. (2022). Intimacy in female sex workers (FSWs): Money, feelings, and commitment. Jurnal Psikologi Ulayat, 9(2), 281–304. https://doi.org/10.24854/jpu542

Issue

Vol. 9 No. 2 (2022)

Section

Original Research

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Copyright (c) 2022 I Kadek Wahyu Pujhana, David Hizkia Tobing, Made Diah Lestari

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