Prostitution Stigma and Its Effect on the Working Conditions, Personal Lives, and Health of Sex Workers

Abstract

Researchers have shown that stigma is a fundamental determinant of behavior, well-being, and health for many marginalized groups, but sex workers are notably absent from their analyses. This article aims to fill the empirical research gap on sex workers by reviewing the mounting evidence of stigmatization attached to sex workers' occupation, often referred to as "prostitution" or "whore" stigma. We give special attention to its negative effect on the working conditions, personal lives, and health of sex workers. The article first draws attention to the problem of terminology related to the subject area and makes the case for consideration of prostitution stigmatization as a fundamental cause of social inequality. We then examined the sources of prostitution stigma at macro, meso, and micro levels. The third section focuses on tactics sex workers employ to manage, reframe, or resist occupational stigma. We conclude with a call for more comparative studies of stigma related to sex work to contribute to the general stigma literature, as well as social policy and law reform.

Deteção da Infeção por Vírus da Imunodeficiência Humana e Outras Infeções Sexualmente Transmissíveis num Grupo de Trabalhadores/as do Sexo em Contexto Indoor na Área Metropolitana do Porto

“…À escassez de dados epidemiológicos que permitem caracterizar as necessidades da população soma-se o estigma relacionado com o trabalho sexual. A estigmatização do trabalho sexual contribui para o afastamento desta população das estruturas de saúde convencionais, 12 justificando-se a necessidade de implementar serviços de base comunitária que, por um lado, se revelem especializados em intervenções integradas com populações ocultas e, por outro, integrem as vantagens e o grau de sensibilidade das metodologias de rastreio em meio clínico. 13 De forma a colmatar as necessidades supra identificadas, o Porto G, no âmbito do Programa Gilead GÉNESE, implementou o projeto "Detecção VIH/SIDA, outras Infeções Sexualmente Transmissíveis (IST) e Hepatites Víricas nos/as Trabalhadores/as do Sexo (TS)".…”

Navigating Intersecting Identities, Self‐Representation, and Relationships: A Qualitative Study with Trans Sex Workers Living and Working in Los Angeles, CA

“…Stigma has been shown to negatively impact identity formation processes and concepts of the self, resulting in social exclusion (Benoit et al. ). The deeply held assumption in society that there are only two genders causes cognitive dissonance for transgender people (Sumerau and Mathers ), but the trans‐self in relation to the sex trade is seldom explored in sex work scholarship (Fletcher ).…”

“…The experiences of sex workers are fluid, involve a continuum of occupational experiences, and range in degree of empowerment/choice to oppression/exploitation (Benoit et al. ; Jones ). Future research must focus on countering dominant stigmatizing narratives to enable a safer, gender‐affirming society for trans sex workers.…”

Prostitution In Russia: Discriminatory Practices And Trends In Professionalization

“…Prostitution is subject to the law of supply and demand. Its existence is associated with the manifestation of many negative trends, such as increased discrimination and stigmatization (Benoit, Jansson, Smith, & Flagg, 2018). In this connection, we pose the following questions: What are the ways and reasons for entering the sphere of prostitution?…”