Abstract
<p>This paper examines the Philippine sexual economy through a structural sociological and historical lens, arguing that commercial sex work is not merely an outcome of individual choice or moral failure but a rational adaptation to intersecting historical, economic, and institutional constraints. Drawing upon interdisciplinary literature from sociology, history, gender studies, public policy, and human rights, the study traces the evolution of the Philippine sexual economy from Spanish colonial rule and the institutionalization of prostitution around American military bases to its contemporary integration within global tourism. It demonstrates how persistent poverty, gender-segmented labor markets, discriminatory employment practices, and inadequate social welfare systems have made sex work a significant strategy of female household subsistence. The paper further examines how these structural conditions contribute to the growth of solo motherhood and the enduring marginalization of Amerasian children abandoned by foreign military personnel and tourists. It argues that the coexistence of criminalization, anti-trafficking legislation, and external geopolitical influence has produced a policy framework that simultaneously punishes, victimizes, and silences sex workers while denying them labor rights and limiting effective public health interventions. Rather than framing prostitution solely as a criminal justice or moral issue, the analysis situates it within broader systems of political economy, gender inequality, and postcolonial governance. The paper concludes by proposing evidence-based structural reforms, including labor market expansion, strengthened support for solo mothers, rights-based legal reform, and greater accountability for the historical legacies of foreign military intervention. By reframing the Philippine sexual economy as a structural rather than individual phenomenon, this study contributes to broader debates on gender, labor, postcolonial development, and the sociology of informal economies.</p>