Unified Family Court
Training
1.13.2016
Peter Qualliotine
Director of Men’s Accountability
Organization for Prostitution
Survivors
www.seattleops.org
In a three-week period,
men in King County,
Washington searched
online to buy
commercial sex 107,000
times
King County
Prosecuting Attorney’s
Office has identified
over one hundred
websites where
commercial sex is sold
Understanding Prostitution as Gender
Based Violence
The Social Construction of Gender
“Act Like
a Man”
“Most men think that sex will
provide them with a sense of being
alive, connected, that sex will offer
closeness, intimacy, pleasure. And
more often than not sex simply
does not deliver the goods. This
fact does not lead men to cease
obsessing about sex; it intensifies
their lust and their longing.”
- bell hooks
www.seattleops.org
The “Good Girl/ Bad
Girl” Dichotomy
www.seattleops.org
“Prostitution isn't like anything else. Rather,
everything else is like prostitution because it is
the model for women's condition.”
-Evelina Giobbe
W.H.I.S.P.E.R.
www.seattleops.org
PROSTITUTION
ECOSYSTEM
Bystanders
Buyers
Pimps
Victim/
Survivors
www.seattleops.org
Program Areas
• Survivor Services
• Community Education
• Men’s Accountability
www.seattleops.org
Robust exit services for victim/survivors
(adults and children) should be the
central focus of a coordinated
community response to commercial
sexual exploitation.
Demand Reduction, Prevention and
Community Education programming
should be survivor-informed and
accountable to survivors.
Addressing Demand
 There is no Demand for Trafficking; Demand is for
sexual access to the bodies of women and
children in prostitution.
 Men’s feelings of Entitlement drive Demand.
OPS and King County
Prosecuting Attorneys
Office received funding
from Demand Abolition in
2014 to reduce Demand
for Commercial Sex in
King County
Direct Interventions with Commercial Sex Buyers and potential
Buyers along a spectrum of Prevention and Intervention
Spectrum of Direct Interventions focused
on Individual Buyers and Potential Buyers

Parenting Boys

Teaching Empathy and Respect to Children

Middle and High School Prevention Curricula

Awareness promoting Men’s Accountability

Online Deterrence

Outreach

Interruption

Arrest

Prosecution and Conviction

Post-Conviction Intervention Program
Primary
Prevention
Secondary
Prevention
Tertiary
Prevention/
Intervention
“Most men lead lives of
quiet desperation and
go to the grave with the
song still in them.”
-Henry David Thoreau
“I feel horrible. I realize that I was using
prostitutes as receptacles for my own shame.
They didn’t deserve that”
- SSE Participant
Comparing Sex Buyers with
Men Who Don’t Buy Sex
For the complete
report visit:
www.prostitutionresearch.com
Comparing Sex Buyers with Men Who Don’t Buy Sex:
summary of findings and recommendations
 As in other studies of sex buyers, sex buyers expressed
ambivalence, guilt and negative thinking about buying sex. They felt
just as many negative feelings after buying sex as they did before.
 Many sex buyers sought sex that lacked emotional connection. They
had little objection if the woman they purchased pretended to like
them or actively disliked performing the act of prostitution.
 Sex buyers repeatedly commented that they liked the power
relationship in prostitution and that they liked the freedom from any
relationship obligation.
Comparing Sex Buyers with Men Who Don’t Buy Sex:
summary of findings and recommendations
 Both sex buyers and non-sex buyers evidenced extensive
knowledge of the physical and psychological harms of
prostitution.
 Two thirds of both the sex buyers and the non-sex buyers
observed that a majority of women are lured, tricked, or
trafficked into prostitution.
 Many of the men had an awareness of the economic coercion
and the lack of alternatives in women's entry into prostitution.
Comparing Sex Buyers with Men Who Don’t Buy Sex:
summary of findings and recommendations
 Almost all of the sex buyers and non-sex buyers shared the
opinion that minor children are almost always available for
prostitution in bars, massage parlors, escort and other
prostitution in Boston.
Comparing Sex Buyers with Men Who Don’t Buy Sex:
summary of findings and recommendations
 The knowledge that the women have been exploited, coerced,
pimped, or trafficked failed to deter sex buyers from buying
sex.
 Many of the sex buyers had used women who were controlled
by pimps at the time they used her for sex.
 Sex buyers in this study seemed to justify their involvement in the
sex industry by stating their belief that women in prostitution are
essentially “different from non-prostituting women.”
Comparing Sex Buyers with Men Who Don’t Buy Sex:
summary of findings and recommendations
 Both sex buyers and non-sex buyers subscribed to the theory that
prostitution reduces the likelihood of rape.
 Although half of the study’s sample did not buy sex, many of them
were tolerant of prostitution for men who did.
 These findings suggest that efforts to deter sex buyers should
expand their focus from men who buy sex to the general public’s
attitudes that support prostitution.
“Why did we need a new model program?”
Traditional
“John School”
“Stopping Sexual Exploitation: a
Program for Men”
 Diversion
 Post Conviction
 One class
 Multiple sessions
 Large group
 Individual and small group
 lecture format
 Interactive exercises
 Claims effectiveness
 Acknowledges limitations
 “Shotgun Approach”
 Clear pedagogical goals
 Information based
 Process based
www.seattleops.org
Three
ProcessBased goals
of SSE
“This class helped me take a good long hard look at
myself and my relationships. I want to use this to
make my relationship with my wife a mutual
relationship rather than a controlling one where I
am trying to control her.”
- SSE Participant
What we are asking of our partners:
www.seattleops.org
Stopping Sexual Exploitation: a Program for
Men (SSE)
Apply
• Referred participant
contacts OPS
• Registration and
payment online
Individual Phone
Telephone meeting
with a counselor to
determine
admission to the
program
• Motivational
interviewing
Orientation
(60 minutes)
Weekly Class
(8 weeks)
• Individual learns more
about the program and
prepares for the weekly
class
• Motivational
Interviewing
• Attend weekly
experiential education
class
• complete weekly selfreflection assignments
The program consists of 2 sessions
of Motivational Interviewing followed
by an 8-week group class.
Motivational Interviewing Sessions
 Motivational Interviewing is a method that works on facilitating and
engaging intrinsic motivation within the participant in order to change
behavior. MI is a goal-oriented, client-centered counseling style for eliciting
behavior change by helping clients to explore and resolve ambivalence.
 First session is by phone
 Second session (same counselor) is in person one week prior to group
starting at the venue where group program will be held
www.seattleops.org
The class consists of 8 modules designed to have
participants explore the roots and motivations as well as the
impact of the practice of sex buying.
1.
Male gender socialization: Myths of Male Sexuality and the Construction of Male
Sexual Identity
2.
Female gender socialization and prostitution as gender based violence
3.
Pornography, Sexual Objectification and the Sexual Violence continuum
4.
Domestic Violence, Pimping and Prostitution
5.
Oppression and Prostitution
6.
Vulnerability
7.
Mutuality and Consent
8.
the Will to Change: Where do we go from here?
“I really liked this class, but eight weeks is not
enough. We have been in this problem for years so
eight weeks is not long enough, we need more.”
- SSE Participant
SSE EVALUATION
•
•
•
•
EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM
NOT A CLINICAL INTERVENTION
PROVIDE INFORMATION AND EDUCATION
CHANGE IN BELIEFS, ATTITUDES, AND
BEHAVIORS
• NORM CHANGE TOWARD SEX BUYING
GUIDELINES FOR DEVELOPING SSE PRoGRAM
EVALUATION
• WHAT WILL BE EVALUATED?
• ASPECTS OF THE PROGRAM CONSIDERED FOR JUDGING
PROGRAM PERFORMANCE
•
•
•
•
STANDARDS FOR SUCCESS
EVIDENCE FOR HOW PROGRAM HAS PERFORMED
CONCLUSIONS ON PROGRAM EFFECTIVENESS
EVALUATION DATA USED TO IMPROVE /ADUST PROGRAM
SSE PROGRAM EVALUATION
• 24 QUESTIONS
• 7 QUALITATIVE RESPONSES
• CATEGORIES
• HAS YOUR THINKING CHANGED ABOUT PROSTITUTION AFTER
PARTICIPATING IN SSE?
• WILL YOU BUY SEX AGAIN?
• IMPACT OF SEX BUYING?
• Program Improvement?
HAS YOUR THINKING CHANGED - “YES” 100%
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Made me aware of the hell these girls go through and I never wanted to exploit them again.
•
•
•
•
After this program I learn and realize that what I do is totally unacceptable
•
I have a better understanding of the "person" behind the prostitution.
I feel like I know the underlying issues which lead men to prostitution & gives you a way to solve for it.
Has given me a new perspective on the sex for money business
It helps me to bring changes on me as well as my friends
To try to find another way other than sex
More thoughtful of what is typically involved
Before I never thought about the prostitute side of the equation. before it seemed like a victimless crime
I had no idea the horrible things women in prostitution go through.
I realized that there is more to prostitution than buying sex that many societal problems surround it and many
injustices are present in the process.
I didn’t know what was behind it before, like the pimp stuff and abuse
It was enlightening to know some of the facts, and realize how detrimental prostitution is.
I realized that there is more to prostitution than buying sex that many societal problems surround it
and many injustices are present in the process.
Cohort 2-7: Change in Attitudes/Beliefs of Court-Referred SSE Participants
Average Agreement "before the program" and "today". N = 41
Agree -5
Agree somewhat - 4
"People in prostitution like what they are doing."
"Women freely choose to prostitute."
"If I give a woman money for sex she
should do whatever I want her to do."
"Women are not harmed by prositution."
"Men have a right to pay women for sex."
"Women in prostitution can not be raped."
3.6
3.6
Neutral - 3
Disagree somewhat - 2 Disagree - 1
change of - 2.0
1.6
change of - 1.9
1.7
2.8
change of - 2.1
1.1
change of - 2.0
3.1
2.9
1.1
change of - 2.8
2.2
change of -0.9
1.1
1.3
DO YOU THINK YOU WILL BUYSEX
AGAIN?
• 95% - “NO” (N = 41)
IMPACT OF SEX BUYING
Disagree – Agree
1
•
•
•
•
-
5
(Mean)
I will talk to other men about negative impact of buying sex
4.14
Prostitution buying had a negative impact on my life
4.69
Prostitution buying had a negative impact on others in my life
4.77
Prostitution buying had a negative impact on prostituted women
4.6
What did you learn in this program?
•
Learned how what we learned about being a man growing up continues to influence us and make us feel entitled.
•
It's okay to unpack how you feel. There are slippery slopes we all can go down; so stay cautious & accountable on what's
driving it.
•
1) How much a nightmare of a life women in prostitution live. 2) Learn a lot about how to develop and improve my
relationship with people, especially my wife
•
I learned about how prostitution isn't really a choice and that even if I did treat her nice it won't stop the pain that she
might receive from others.
•
We need to change how we men think about sex, love, relationships
•
That buying sex doesn't fulfill my needs and causes harm.
•
Higher level of empathy for vulnerable people & women involved in sexual exploitation.
•
Looking back changed the way I think moving forward
•
To change this problem with prostitution I need to change first
•
Too many things, it was a full program and awesome modules
•
Keep this program going to educate the community & spread the word
What Did You Learn About Men’s
Accountability
• Men who pay for sex increase the demand and help to keep
prostitution thriving.
• That it is just as much our fault for buying sex than the pimp who
forces her on the street.
• It's absolutely needed to educate men about this.
• We are responsible for perpetuating this market.
• Men are rarely accountable & can't figure it out. What is wrong with
them.
How Would You Improve the Program?
• Make it available in other languages, maybe do a distance
learning alternative to people that want to do this voluntarily.
• Bilingual classes
• Preventative program and enroll more men
• The program was very useful and informative
“This class opened my eyes to things about myself and my life that
are hard to face. I related these things to myself, and the stuff that
I thought didn't pertain to me. I learned how I can change myself
which can help to change these things for others too. I never cared
for or understood how these things really do affect me until now”
-SSE Cohort 1 Participant
Peter Qualliotine
Director of Men’s
Accountability
www.seattleops.org