- More than 79% believe that this activity puts the dignity of the people who engage in it at risk, and 71.6% believe that pornography promotes violence against women.
- Punishing those who profit from the prostitution of others would help reduce trafficking in women and girls, according to 85.6% of the population.
- There is broad consensus within society on the need to limit minors' access to pornographic content, with 93.3%
The Ministry of Equality, through the Government Delegation against Gender Violence (DGVG) and in collaboration with the Center for Sociological Research (CIS), has launched a survey targeting residents of Spain aged 16 and over. Its objective was to analyze societal perceptions of pornography and prostitution, as well as to understand how the public assesses their risks, impacts, and consequences in terms of equality, safety, and human rights. The ultimate goal is to generate robust empirical evidence to inform data-driven public policies, with a particular focus on preventing violence against women.
The study, based on 10,019 interviews, analyzes citizens' attitudes, beliefs, and opinions regarding pornography, digital exposure to sexual content, victimization through the dissemination or non-consensual use of sexual images—including those generated with artificial intelligence (AI)—the perception of prostitution, and the measures considered appropriate to prevent and eradicate it.
In light of the survey results, nearly 69% of respondents strongly or somewhat agree that prostitution is a form of violence against women, a percentage that rises to 75.1% among women. Furthermore, 79.1% strongly or somewhat agree that prostitution jeopardizes the dignity of those who engage in it, and over 75% believe that most women in prostitution are victims of sexual exploitation.
On the other hand, more than three-quarters of the population consider that prostitution is not a job "like any other" and 79.8% reject the idea that it is "a way of exercising sexual freedom".
Eighty-two percent of the population believes that paying for sex is a behavior more typical of men, as is watching pornography. Meanwhile, prostitution is perceived as a behavior more typical of women.
Sixty-three percent of the population would disapprove of a male relative paying for sex. This rejection is even more pronounced among women, reaching 71.1%. Furthermore, the analysis by the DGVG and the CIS reveals a clear aversion among women to having a relationship with someone who pays for sex, with 91.2% stating they have no such intention.
The public perceives prostitution as a phenomenon closely linked to socioeconomic vulnerability and violence. Seven out of ten people surveyed believe that women in prostitution are in it out of economic necessity, while 41.5% believe they are forced into it.
Regarding pornography, 71.6% believe it promotes violence against women, and 93.3% of survey participants indicate the need to restrict minors' access to this content. They believe the responsibility for establishing these restrictions should lie primarily with families, parents, and also with the government.
Furthermore, paying to view sexual acts on online platforms is considered a form of prostitution by seven out of ten people surveyed.
Digital platforms
Six out of ten people say they are aware of digital platforms like OnlyFans or JustForFans, with awareness being higher among men and those aged 16 to 34. According to those interviewed, financial need is the main reason some people create intimate content on these platforms.
When asked about the risks that women who offer intimate or sexual content on digital platforms may face, the responses point to blackmail or extortion, unauthorized distribution, or harassment.
The vast majority of the population, 95%, believes that digital platforms should be required to remove non-consensual sexual content published on them.
Eradication of prostitution
Regarding measures to eradicate prostitution, almost half the population believes the most necessary is strengthening education on equality, sexuality, and human rights from childhood. Likewise, the provision of social and economic programs to help women leave prostitution is seen as essential.
Three out of ten respondents believe that punishing those who pay for prostitution and those who profit from the prostitution of others, but not the prostituted women, could be another effective measure.
Regarding those who pay for prostitution, almost half of those who believe punishments should be imposed on those who pay for or profit from prostitution understand that this behavior should carry educational and economic sanctions. As for those who profit from the sexual activity of others, imprisonment is the most frequently mentioned measure, at 82.4%. The majority of the population, 85.6%, believes that punishing those who profit from the prostitution of others would contribute to reducing the trafficking of women and girls for sexual exploitation.
In short, perceptions of pornography are largely critical, linking it to violence, the distortion of sexuality, and inequality. The results of the survey reflect a widespread rejection of positions that normalize prostitution, indicating a social orientation aligned with abolitionist approaches.
Relacionados
- 23 JUL 2024