Sex Work: The Basics

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Sex work is the exchange of money or other goods for sexual services between consenting adults.

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Sex workers are diverse. Sex workers are of all genders, assigned sex, and sexuality. Groups that have been historically neglected (and continue to face systemic oppression), including Black and Indigenous people, people of colour, im/migrants, gender diverse folks, people living in poverty, people who use substances, disabled people and more are more vulnerable to violence within the sex industry.

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It includes escorting, street-based sex work, cam work, cyber sex, exotic dancing, pornography and more.

justice

Selling sex in Canada is not illegal, although many activities associated with it are.

violence

Because of geographical locations, stigma, and the criminalization surrounding sex work, street-based sex workers experience much higher levels of violence and exploitation.

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5% to 20% takes place on the street;  80% to 95% takes place indoor (homes, hotel rooms, massage parlours, bathhouses, etc.)  Sex workers who work indoors are less visible and face different issues (e.g. eviction, neighbor complaints, business licensing issues, etc.)

REASONS TO ENGAGE IN SEX WORK

enjoying the work

earn a living

autonomy

flexibility

Stigma

Sex work is stigmatized in society. Because sex work is stigmatized, sex workers are de-valued and dehumanized. Because individuals who sell/trade sex are dehumanized, they are targeted for violence and face barriers to supports. Because of the stigmatized nature of sex work, they are blamed for the violence that they experience.  

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Stigma perpetuates violence against sex workers.

Sex Work in Context

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Human Trafficking

Human trafficking is different than sex work. 

Human trafficking in Canada means the recruitment, transportation, harbouring and/or exercising control over the movements of a person for the purposes of sexual exploitation or forced labour. This is a human rights violation.

Sex work, on the other hand, is a consensual transaction between adults, where the act of selling or buying sexual services involves consent and control. Sex work is not a violation of human rights.

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Impacts: When human trafficking and sex work are conflated, sex workers are treated like victims and exploited persons. Their rights may be taken away, and their health, safety and legal needs are negatively impacted.

What Can YOU Do

DO
Do be aware of your own unconscious bias about sex work
Do understand how pervasive stigmatizing images and language are in popular culture
Do recognize the unique life experience of each individual sex worker
Do address stigma and misinformation among peers, colleagues and family
Do educate yourself about sex workers’ experiences and issues
DON'T
Don’t sensationalize sex work or talk about it in a gratuitous or voyeuristic way
Don’t watch or consume media, video games, etc that are stigmatizing of sex workers
Don’t assume that all sex workers are victims or have the same experience. Respect how sex workers describe their own experiences
Don’t be silent when you hear someone say something that stigmatizes sex workers
Don’t rely on popular culture to inform you about sex work