Economic Rationality and Morality in Preventing Teenager to Be Prostitute

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to identify the background of what causes teenagers having profession as prostitutes, modus operandi, and its impact. Another purpose is to create a model for the sustainable empowerment of adolescent sex workers based on economic rationality and morality to cultivate a positive mindset and behavior as the foundation of productive and consumptive activities in daily life. The present paper is based on a qualitative design using several steps. First step was undertaken through a survey to obtain real description of respondents by snowballing sampling technique. Second step was to have SWOT analysis as determinant of the feasibility of becoming pilot research location. Third step was done through in-depth interview and focus group discussion. The research result indicates that profession as indirect prostitute of teenager currently still exists and grows increasingly in Malang City. The prostitution practice in secretly operated, but indirect prostitutes can be traced through the users such as close friends, sales promotion girls especially with tester products. The majority age is fifteen to twenty three years with education level of junior high school to university. One way to change the teenager prostitute’s behavior is by empowering teenagers productive and consumptive activities based on economic rationality and morality.

Keywords: teenager, prostitute, economic rationality and morality