This study aims to understand the process that sexually exploited teenage girls escape from prostitution. For this purpose, eleven teenage girls participated in in-depth interview who are considered to have escaped from prostitution completely. Data w...
This study aims to understand the process that sexually exploited teenage girls escape from prostitution. For this purpose, eleven teenage girls participated in in-depth interview who are considered to have escaped from prostitution completely. Data were analyzed with grounded theory methodology. Fourteen categories consisting of thirty three subcategories and ninety nine concepts are found to explain the process of escaping from prostitution. Sexually exploited girls decide to escape from prostitution under causal conditions such as experiencing traumatic experiences psychologically and physically, and escape actually through crucial events such as being arrested. After decision, they usually go through several times of seduction. As they develop self-regulation ability in order to overcome seduction for their own or with some help from others' instrumental and emotional support, they feel positive affects and hope. As a result of interaction of internal and external conditions, they come to have positive self-image and return to healthy daily life. Selective coding reveals two types of the process of escaping: 'teenagers dependent on crucial events' and 'teenagers being forced to prostitution'.