“CLOSED” FEMALE PROSTITUTION IN THE CITY OF RIO DE JANEIRO: dynamics and spatial organization

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to analyze the dynamics and the geographical dimension of “closed” female prostitution in the city of Rio de Janeiro. The study makes use of data collected at the end of the 1990s, and, more significantly, at the beginning of the 21st Century, when the activity began to spread significantly. This research is based on samples of newspaper advertisements, flyers distributed in the downtown area streets, as well as websites and blogs, in order to identify the main neighborhoods, streets and establishments involved, as well as the characteristics of the sex workers themselves. Complementary field research was also carried out between 2004 and 2011. This study indicates that “closed” female brothel prostitution has been gaining in prominence in the main urban centers in the country, especially in metropolises, and, in Rio de Janeiro, the activity is conducted on premises located in the Downtown Area and in streets of several neighborhoods in the southern and western parts of the city.