Female Street Prostitution Market in Metropolitan Tehran

Acquiring full knowledge of illegal markets, prostitution included, is difficult and in some cases impossible. However, without knowing the characteristics of these markets, it is not possible to design any intervention policy to prevent, control or decrease it. The sample of this study consists of women active in prostitution in all 22municipal districts of Tehran. Findings show that in the prostitution market - almost like in any other marketrules of supply and demand affect and determine many factors, although they do not explain the main causes and effects. Examining the components of income and working shifts of prostitutes shows that the following factors have a meaningful and significant effect on level of income: 1- costs 2- current age, 3- stomping ground (location to find customers) 4- rate per intercourse (normal) 5- number of clients 6- level of experience. Finding also show that the dominant pattern for street prostitution in Tehran is individually based, and economically speaking, a ‘market’ has not been fully shaped in this section yet. The formation of a prostitution market in Iran has been hampered by the low rate of income compared to rate of inflation, impossibility of organizing, developing and diversifying activities, low human trafficking (foreign women) into Iran and lack of possibility to invest in this section. Age for entering prostitution is between 16 to 22 years in Iran, which is higher than global ranges. Also comparing some of the market factors, including spatial and temporal distribution of prostitution activity, the number of customers, income and expenses, with the findings of international studies shows that the prostitution market is geographically concentrated in Tehran. There, it is located in the main streets of the city, thusin this case,it bears similarities with global patterns. Like most similar studies in other countries, busy days of the week are the weekends in Iran, but the demand, revenue and expenses follow different patterns. In conclusion, this research emphasis on poverty reduction as a sustainable strategy to control social problems, including prostitution,follows the argument that ignoring such strategy will result in formation and growth of illegal markets.