The thesis examines Sweden's 1998 ban on buying sex. The material was collected between 2009 and 2019 and analyses the law from legal, political and social perspectives as well as within the framework of moral politics.
The thesis contributes to the understanding of the politics of prostitution and the definition of moral politics as a political class. It classifies the purchase of sex as a consensual crime with religious roots, which is subject to repressive policies (elimination through criminalisation), restrictive policies (strict regulation) or integrative policies (inclusion in sectoral legislation).
An issue that evokes strong emotions
The opponent, Professor Sara Johnsdotter, Malmö University, summed up the thesis by noting that the issue of prostitution is controversial.
- The issue arouses strong emotions and moral politics is about what kind of society we want to live in.
Petra Östergren said that the topic had forced her to be very careful in her work in order to be able to face criticism.
Sara Johnsdotter concluded the discussion by saying that the thesis was an important contribution to the development of theory in social anthropology.
- It is a dense, well-written text with originality and academic integrity that requires concentrated reading. As a reader, I am convinced.
A unanimous examination board approved the thesis.
About the thesis
Petra Östergren has written a thesis entitled ‘Sweden's Ban on Sex-Purchase: Morality politics and the governance of prostitution’. Supervisors Simon Turner and Sébastien Tutenges.
The thesis in the Lund University Research Portal (opens in new tab).