Commercial Sexual Practices Before and After Legalization in Australia

Abstract

The nature of sex work changes over time for many reasons. In recent decades around the world, there has been movement toward legalization and control of sex economies. Studies of the possible impact of legalization mainly have focused on sexually transmitted infections and violence, with little attention to change in the diversity of sexual services provided. This study examined the practices of sex workers before and after legalization of prostitution. Cross-sectional surveys of comparable samples of female sex workers were conducted in 1991 (N = 200, aged 16-46 years) and 2003 (N = 247, aged 18-57 years) in Queensland, Australia, spanning a period of major change in regulation of the local industry. In 2003, male clients at brothels and private sole operators (N = 161; aged 19-72 years) were also interviewed. Over time, there was a clear increase in the provision of "exotic" sexual services, including bondage and discipline, submission, fantasy, use of sex toys, golden showers, fisting, and lesbian double acts, while "traditional" services mostly remained at similar levels (with substantial decrease in oral sex without a condom). Based on comparisons of self-reports of clients and workers, the demand for anal intercourse, anal play, and urination during sex apparently exceeded supply, especially in licensed brothels. Within this population, legalization of sex work coincided with a substantial increase in diversity of services, but it appears that in the regulated working environments, clients who prefer high risk practices might not dictate what is available to them.

Sexuality and sex work.

“…One study comparing sex workers' experiences in these three contexts found that decriminalization promoted increased health coverage of sex workers compared with legalization and criminalized states. In another study in Victoria, Australia, the demand for usual sex work services did not change significantly with legalization, except for a decline in oral sex without a condom (Seib, Dunne, Fischer, & Najman, 2010). Other research has found that criminal sanctions (e.g., punishment, deterrence, and rehabilitation) did not necessarily increase with prohibition of prostitution in the United States (Rio, 1991).…”

Using ‘intimate citizenship’ to make sense of the experiences of men with refugee backgrounds in Australia

“…In addition, many people in Australia have at their disposal technologies to assist in reproduction (Terry and Shorey 2000;Wang et al 2011), technologies promoting pornography and other 'cyber space' sexualities (Voon 2001;Flood 2007), the availability of public sex venues (O'sullivan et al 2002;Lyons et al 2010) and a variety of contraceptives (Weisberg 2002;Family Planning Victoria 2012). There is also legal recognition of sex work in some States such as Victoria, Queensland and New South Wales, that provides a range of services for clients with diverse sexual interests ranging from outer course practices such as use of sex toys, to bondage, discipline and submission fantasies (Seib et al 2010). Although some of these forms of intimate practices continue to be opposed, there exists an environment in Australia that allows for the thriving of claims for individual choice in pursuing intimate relationships.…”

Personal and Financial Risk Typologies Among Women Who Engage in Sex Work in Mongolia: A Latent Class Analysis

“…Directly measuring risk variables and categorizing participants into real-world types could represent a welcome addition to the field. The current findings also open up new ways to classify risk change over time in the way that Seib, Dunne, Fischer, and Najman (2010) have done. In fact, we believe that Seib et al could break their sample into latent classes and measure changes within specific risk types over time.…”