Equally Safe: consultation - easy read

Men's demand for prostitution

We do not have a lot of information about men who pay for sex or why they buy it because a lot of this behaviour is hidden.

Some studies indicate that men who buy sex think they are more important than women. They think they have a right of sexual access to women. These feelings could give rise to men's violent behaviour towards women and girls.

Some men might buy sex because prostitution has been made to feel normal and part of accepted society. This is caused by ideas around stag parties, porn and how women are described in the media.

Demand for buying sex can also exist because women are not viewed equally in society and have less access to opportunities than men.

Relationships, sexual health and parenthood (RSHP) classes are an important part of health and wellbeing education in Scottish schools.

These classes aim to help children and young people build positive relationships as they grow older.

It is for schools to decide how they deliver RSHP classes. An online teaching resource is available to support teachers in Scotland to deliver age and stage appropriate RSHP education.

In addition to learning about romantic and loving relationships, it will support teaching about prostitution as sexual exploitation for senior pupils (S4-S6). It will also help young people (S1-S3) to learn about abusive relationships by covering grooming, sexual exploitation and violence.

This resource will support the Equally Safe strategy to stop violence against women and girls.

The Scottish Government is clear that university and college campuses should be safe places for students to live, work and study free from gender based violence. It is important that students in Further and Higher Education understand what drives prostitution and the harm it causes.

Question 4. What would help to change the attitudes of men about paying for sex? Do you have any examples of good ways to do this?

Question 5. How can the education system help young people to have better attitudes about consent and healthy relationships?