Media discourse of legalization of prostitution in Ukraine: an intersectional analysis

Abstract: The intersectional analysis was applied in a sociological study on the arguments of the legalization of prostitution in Ukraine and the characteristics of the main actors of media discourse. The theoretical rationale for the discourse on the phenomenon of prostitution was the application of Margaret Archer's structural-activity approach and the concept of intersectionality, to describe and explain the connection between the subject-structure-culture. The socio-historical and legal features of prostitution in Ukraine and the models of prostitution regulation in the world are considered. The feminist approach to the analysis of the phenomenon of prostitution and the qualitative methodology of sociological research were applied, the empirical analysis was performed using the method of discourse analysis of texts and videos in the Ukrainian media. The research indicates that there is a link and intersection between the actor's own position in the structure, belonging to a certain social class group, representation in the media discourse, gender, and argumentation regarding the legalization of prostitution in Ukraine. The findings can be drawn to public discussion and demonstration of Ukraine's major obstacles to regulating prostitution in Ukraine.