Riskscapes and Sexscapes: the Socio-Spatial Dialectics of Brothels in Ogbomoso, Nigeria

Abstract

The state of anomie in cities has induced several sociological problems that are place and space specific. Against this background, the study assesses the socio-environmental effects of brothels in Ogbomoso, Nigeria. The study identifies the social and environmental characteristics of brothels, evaluate the behavioral attitudes of residents in the selected neighborhoods including morals, culture, norms, values, etc, and assess relationships between existence of brothels and the moral/ behavioral attitudes of residents in their neighborhood. Both the primary and secondary data were used. A structured questionnaire was administered to 67 respondents, pro-rata at the ratio of 17:17:33, in the three zones at each of the seven brothel areas. The study thus used a multi-stage sampling procedure. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used. Chi-square and ANOVA were used to explain the difference in the characteristics of resident between and among the zones on the one hand and among the brothel areas on the other. Linear regression analysis was used to explain the relationship between environmental characteristics and social behavior of the residents. The study observed that there is a reliable relationship (R = .973) between the location of brothels and socially unacceptable behavior among residents. This observation do not differ significantly among the brothel areas but among the zones; indicating the distances from brothels. The study thus recommends an aggressive planning that incorporates sociological considerations in the ordering of the use of land.

Keywords: Riskscapes, Sexscapes, Brothels, Environmental Characteristics, Social Behavior