[IPSM] First Nation Women Prostituted 'in Overwhelming Numbers'

[usman x]

http://www.aviva.org/namica.htm

http://sisyphe.org/article.php3?id_article=1407
15 décembre 2004

First Nation Women Prostituted 'in Overwhelming Numbers'

'I have been given permission by the publishers of Journal of Transcultural
Psychiatry to offer this article to anyone at this time who could use this
information in Canada.  My coauthors and I feel that it is a contribution to
the Canadian struggle against legalizing prostitution in Canada.  Among
others, what we found is that First Nations young women are prostituted in
overwhelming numbers in Canada.  This fact is usually not brought up during
the discussion about legalization, and we hope that this article
contributes:

'Prostitution in Vancouver: Violence and the  Colonization of First Nations
Women.' We interviewed 100 women prostituting in Vancouver Canada.  We found
an extremely high prevalence of lifetime violence and PTSD. 52% of our
interviewees were women from Canada's First Nations, a significant
overrepresentation in prostitution compared to their representation in
Vancouver generally (1.7-7%).  82% reported a history of childhood sexual
abuse, by an average of 4 perpetrators. 72% reported childhood physical
abuse, 90% had been physically assaulted in prostitution, 78% had been raped
in prostitution. 72%  met DSM IV criteria for PTSD. 95%  said that they
wanted to leave prostitution.  86% reported current or past homelessness
with housing as one of their most urgent needs. 82% expressed a need for
treatment for drug or alcohol addictions. Findings are discussed in terms of
the legacy of colonialism, the intrinsically traumatizing nature of
prostitution and prostitution's violations of basic human rights.'  Source:
Melissa Farley, 'Transcultural Psychiatry, 42(2). June 2005'.

Website: www.prostitutionresearch.com


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