P14.19 The impact of sex work on women’s personal romantic relationships

AbstractWe evaluated the impact of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) on the sex work industry and assessed how it has impacted the health and social conditions of sex workers in Singapore. We conducted a sequential exploratory mixed methods study amidst the COVID-19 pandemic from April to October 2020, including in-depth interviews with 24 stakeholders from the sex work industry and surveyor-administered structured surveys with 171 sex workers. COVID-19 had a substantial impact on sex workers' income. The illegality of sex work, stigma, and the lack of work documentation were cited as exclusionary factors for access to alternative jobs or government relief. Sex workers had experienced an increase in food insecurity (57.3%), housing insecurity (32.8%), and sexual compromise (8.2%), as well as a decrease in access to medical services (16.4%). Being transgender female was positively associated with increased food insecurity (aPR = 1.23, 95% CI [1.08, 1.41]), housing insecurity (aPR = 1.28, 95% CI [1.03, 1.60]), and decreased access to medical services (aPR = 1.74, 95% CI [1.23, 2.46]); being a venue-based sex worker was positively associated with increased food insecurity (aPR = 1.46, 95% CI [1.00, 2.13]), and being a non-Singaporean citizen or permanent resident was positively associated with increased housing insecurity (aPR = 2.59, 95% CI [1.73, 3.85]). Our findings suggest that COVID-19 has led to a loss of income for sex workers, greater food and housing insecurity, increased sexual compromise, and reduced access to medical services for sex workers. A lack of access to government relief among sex workers exacerbated such conditions. Efforts to address such population health inequities should be implemented.

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Unfinished Decriminalization: The Impact of Section 19 of the Prostitution Reform Act 2003 on Migrant Sex Workers’ Rights and Lives in Aotearoa New Zealand

Social Sciences ◽

10.3390/socsci10050179 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (5) ◽

pp. 179

Author(s):

Calum Bennachie ◽

Annah Pickering ◽

Jenny Lee ◽

P. G. Macioti ◽

Nicola Mai ◽

...

Keyword(s):

New Zealand ◽

Sex Work ◽

Sex Workers ◽

Interview Data ◽

Aotearoa New Zealand ◽

Fear Of Deportation ◽

Permanent Residency ◽

The Impact

In 2003, Aotearoa New Zealand (NZ) passed the Prostitution Reform Act 2003 (PRA), which decriminalized sex work for NZ citizens and holders of permanent residency (PR) while excluding migrant sex workers (MSWs) from its protection. This is due to Section 19 (s19) of the PRA, added at the last minute against advice by the Aotearoa New Zealand Sex Workers’ Collective (NZPC) as an anti-trafficking clause. Because of s19, migrants on temporary visas found to be working as sex workers are liable to deportation by Immigration New Zealand (INZ). Drawing on original ethnographic and interview data gathered over 24 months of fieldwork, our study finds that migrant sex workers in New Zealand are vulnerable to violence and exploitation, and are too afraid to report these to the police for fear of deportation, corroborating earlier studies and studies completed while we were collecting data.

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Getting our act together: a qualitative evaluation of the impact of a play on issues relating to women, sex work and substance use

Wellcome Open Research ◽

10.12688/wellcomeopenres.16644.1 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 6 ◽

pp. 234

Author(s):

Anne Campbell ◽

Jo Egan ◽

Paul Murphy ◽

Carolyn Blair

Keyword(s):

Substance Use ◽

Sex Work ◽

Performing Arts ◽

Social Issues ◽

Qualitative Evaluation ◽

Research Process ◽

Service Users ◽

Policy And Practice ◽

The Arts ◽

The Impact

Background: The arts have always sought to explore significant social issues through literature, performing arts and visual art. However, more recently there has been an increase in the use of theatre as a means of gauging audiences’ perception and understanding of key social issues. The primary aim of the current evaluation was to seek the views of audience members, service users of addiction services and expert commentators as regards their perception of a number of key issues related to the content of a play entitled Madame Geneva. Methods: The evaluation used an exploratory qualitative design incorporating a dualistic approach to the research process: including post show discussion with panellists and members of the audience and a focus group comprising service users who had also viewed a live performance of the play. Results: The topics elucidated by the performance of the play included women and sex work, women and substance use, and impact on policy and practice. The discussion of the issues raised reiterated that women still experience high levels of oppression and discrimination in areas of substance use, sex work and welfare ‘reform’ which are often couched within male dominated political discourses and structures in contemporary society. Conclusions: The arts and specifically dramaturgical representations of substance use and related issues is an effective method of initiating important pragmatic and policy discussion of issues, which affect women

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Endometriosis and chronic pelvic pain have similar impact on women, but time to diagnosis is decreasing: an Australian survey

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-020-73389-2 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Mike Armour ◽

Justin Sinclair ◽

Cecilia H. M. Ng ◽

Mikayla S. Hyman ◽

Kenny Lawson ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Romantic Relationships ◽

Pelvic Pain ◽

Chronic Pelvic Pain ◽

Online Survey ◽

Negative Impact ◽

Treatment Options ◽

Diagnostic Delay ◽

Time To Diagnosis ◽

Significant Negative Impact ◽

The Impact

Abstract Chronic pelvic pain (CPP) affects a significant number of women worldwide. Internationally, people with endometriosis report significant negative impact across many areas of their life. We aimed to use an online survey using the EndoCost tool to determine if there was any difference in the impact of CPP in those with vs. those without a confirmed diagnosis of endometriosis, and if there was any change in diagnostic delay since the introduction of clinical guidelines in 2005. 409 responses were received; 340 with a diagnosis of endometriosis and 69 with no diagnosis. People with CPP, regardless of diagnosis, reported moderate to severe dysmenorrhea and non-cyclical pelvic pain. Dyspareunia was also common. Significant negative impact was reported for social, academic, and sexual/romantic relationships in both cohorts. In the endometriosis cohort there was a mean diagnostic delay of eight years, however there was a reduction in both the diagnostic delay (p < 0.001) and number of doctors seen before diagnosis (p < 0.001) in those presenting more recently. Both endometriosis and CPP have significant negative impact. Whilst there is a decrease in the time to diagnosis, there is an urgent need for improved treatment options and support for women with the disease once the diagnosis is made.

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The impact of a microsavings intervention on reducing violence against women engaged in sex work: a randomized controlled study

BMC International Health and Human Rights ◽

10.1186/s12914-016-0101-3 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 16 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Laura Cordisco Tsai ◽

Catherine E. Carlson ◽

Toivgoo Aira ◽

Andrea Norcini Pala ◽

Marion Riedel ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Violence Against Women ◽

Sex Work ◽

Randomized Controlled Study ◽

Controlled Study ◽

Randomized Controlled ◽

The Impact

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The Impact of Violence, Perceived Stigma, and Other Work-Related Stressors on Depressive Symptoms Among Women Engaged in Sex Work

Global Social Welfare ◽

10.1007/s40609-017-0085-5 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 4 (2) ◽

pp. 51-57 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Catherine E. Carlson ◽

Susan S. Witte ◽

Andrea Norcini Pala ◽

Laura Cordisco Tsai ◽

Milton Wainberg ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Sex Work ◽

Perceived Stigma ◽

Work Related ◽

The Impact ◽

Work Related Stressors

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‘I never hoped for anything . . . now I have other plans’: The role of microfinance in HIV intervention for women who use drugs and engage in sex work in Kazakhstan

International Social Work ◽

10.1177/0020872820917737 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 002087282091773

Author(s):

Carolina Vélez-Grau ◽

Nabila El-Bassel ◽

Tara McCrimmon ◽

Assel Terlikbayeva ◽

Sholpan Primbetova ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Reduction ◽

Sex Work ◽

Hiv Risk ◽

Hiv Risk Reduction ◽

Hiv Intervention ◽

Drug Risk ◽

Alternative Sources ◽

Women Who Use Drugs ◽

The Impact ◽

Over Time

Over the past decade, Kazakhstan has experienced increased cases of HIV, especially among women who engage in sex work and use drugs. Research has examined the efficacy of structural interventions to reduce HIV risk; however, few studies have examined the experiences of women participating in these interventions. This study aimed to understand the perceived impact that HIV risk reduction and savings-led microfinance components of the Nova study had on women’s sexual and drug risk behaviors as well as their capacity for reducing income from sex work and finding alternative sources of income over time. The Nova study is a cluster-randomized controlled trial conducted from 2013 to 2018 in Kazakhstan. It examines the efficacy of a combination of HIV risk reduction and microfinance among women who engage in sex work and women who use drugs. Data were drawn from the qualitative component of this study; 56 interviews with 19 participants were conducted. Template analysis and a qualitative trajectory approach were used to understand women’s perceptions of the impact that intervention had over time. Findings indicated that women perceived increased knowledge and skills related to condom use, safe sex practice, and drug use reduction. Women who received the microfinance component described perceived gains on budget management, capacity to plan for their future, and motivation to find alternative sources of income. Giving women the opportunity to express narrative experiences over time regarding the impact of this structural intervention may inform needed cultural adaptations of the intervention components and nuances of the environment in which the intervention is offered.

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Over ‘Sexed’ Regulation and the Disregarded Worker: An Overview of the Impact of Sexual Entertainment Policy on Lap-Dancing Club Workers

Social Policy and Society ◽

10.1017/s1474746412000462 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 12 (2) ◽

pp. 241-252 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Rachela Colosi

Keyword(s):

Sex Work ◽

The Political ◽

Evidence Based ◽

Limited Evidence ◽

England And Wales ◽

Crime And Deviance ◽

Lap Dancing ◽

The Impact

In England and Wales, with the introduction of Section 27 of the Policing and Crime Act 2009, lap-dancing clubs can now be licensed as Sexual Entertainment Venues. This article considers such, offering a critique of Section 27, arguing that this legislation is not evidence-based, with lap-dancing policy, like other sex-work policies, often associated with crime, deviance and immorality. Furthermore, it is argued that sex-work policies are gradually being homogenised as well as increasingly criminalised. Other criticisms relate to various licensing loopholes which lead to some striptease venues remaining unlicensed and unregulated, potentially impacting on the welfare of erotic dancers. In addition, restrictions on the numbers of lap-dancing venues may exacerbate dancer unemployment, drawing these women into poverty. Finally, The Policing and Crime Act reflects how the political focus is being directed away from the exploitation of workers, on to issues relating to crime and deviance, despite limited evidence to support this focus.

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Anti-Social Powers and the Regulation of Street Sex Work

Social Policy and Society ◽

10.1017/s1474746409990236 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

pp. 101-109 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Tracey Sagar

Keyword(s):

Social Network ◽

Social Behavior ◽

Sex Work ◽

Sex Workers ◽

Knowledge Gap ◽

Network Research ◽

Public Nuisance ◽

Street Sex Work ◽

The Impact

This article focuses on the use of anti-social behavior powers in relation to a group of vulnerable women – street sex workers. It illustrates how the use of legal tools – anti-social behavior orders and public nuisance injunctions – against sex workers has been both misplaced and ineffective. The article also considers the use of anti-social powers in light of the government's leaning towards the coercive (or some might argue the compulsory) rehabilitation of sex workers. In doing so, it draws attention to the lack of research on the impact of both exclusion orders and rehabilitation orders for sex workers. Whilst it is important to fill this knowledge gap, it is argued that future investigations in this area would benefit from social network research approaches.

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