Prostitution of Young Girls and Adolescents: an Approach to their Social Representation Among Traders of La Merced

Abstract

Due the last years exponential growing commercial sexual exploitation, this phenomena is currently a global social worrying issue. For this research the theory of social representation is used, in order to approach to the social construction process that it is associated to girls and teenagers prostitution among merchandiser of the community of La Merced in Mexico City. Given the well know connection between social representation and practices this theory is used with the intention to orientated the prevention of sexual exploitation. The results show that social representations on gender, sexuality, childhood and teenagers, prostitution, work and trade as the main topics that sustain the exploitation of little girls and teenagers inhibit structural changes.