M
Mary Anne PA
There are over 3500 sex workers in WA, and only around 2% of them are street-based.
There are several different work environments in the sex industry, including brothel/parlour work, escort work, independent work and street based work. As a rule, street based sex workers' experiences are very different to those of other sex workers. Their lives often involve drug use, homelessness, violence and extreme poverty. Community attitudes and stereotypes are often based on the more visible street sex scene, and misguidedly applied to the industry as a whole.
Sex work is an occupation, not a lifestyle.
When someone says that they are a sex worker, people presume to know their entire lifestyle and make automatic judgements about their character. It is unlikely that similar assumptions would be made about a doctor, an accountant or a school teacher. Many sex workers work regular hours, earn their wages and pay their taxes like anyone else. Being a "prostitute" ends when they leave their place of work.
Sex workers are not all victims of child abuse.
A common misconception is that most sex workers suffered some form of sexual molestation as children, leaving them with altered views on sexuality. Research shows however, that the number of child abuse victims found within the industry is no different to that of the greater community. Women are not necessarily "forced into prostitution" by poor body image or a lack of self-esteem. On the contrary, many sex workers have great confidence in their own bodies, and are comfortable with their sexuality.
Rape and assault are not "part of the job description"
When a sex worker provides a service, it is negotiated and executed as a business transaction. The price of the service and what is included, is agreed upon before the booking begins. When a client performs a sex act that is not included in the service, he is committing an assault. Sex work itself is not an inherently risky occupation...the laws that surround the industry are what make it dangerous. A client is more likely to assault a worker, only because he knows that there is less risk of the crime being reported. Rape is very traumatic, regardless of the victim's occupation, and should always be treated as such.
Sex workers are not necessarily forced or coerced into entering the industry.
The average age of a WA sex worker is around 24. Most workers are well educated, with many currently attending a tertiary institution. The choice to enter the sex industry is usually economically driven, with many paying their way through university, putting their children through school, or purchasing cars and property. They are able to organise their working hours around their other obligations, such as TAFE classes, which would be difficult to do in any other part-time employment. Working for a "pimp" may be a common situation in some other countries, but in Australia most sex workers work of their own free will, for their own financial benefit. Some workers may choose to support their partners with their earnings, however this is a very different scenario to a "pimp".
Being a sex worker does not automatically mean you are a drug user.
According to Australian studies, illicit drug use within the sex industry is no greater than in the wider population. A common myth is that sex workers start using drugs to "cope" with their job. Some workers do choose to enter the sex industry to support a pre-existing drug habit, however most workers are quite capable of doing their job without the use of mind-altering substances. In fact, the majority of sex workers would much prefer to be lucid and alert while in the company of strangers, for their own safety.
Being a sex worker does not affect your ability to be a parent.
A large number of sex workers are single mothers, or women providing a second income in a low-income family. In almost all cases, the children are never aware of what their mother does for a living. Most working mothers have chosen the sex industry because they can earn a relatively large income in a minimal number of working hours, leaving them more quality time to spend with their children. It does not make a parent any less capable of providing a stable home. Even the Family Court does not take a sex worker's occupation into account during a custody case.
Sex workers are not responsible for the spread of STI's in the community.
Numerous studies have shown that Australian sex workers have a lower incidence of STI's (sexually transmitted infections) than the general community. Sex workers are very knowledgable about safe sex practices, and take their sexual health quite seriously. After all if their health suffers, so does their income. Contracting an illness such as HIV could mean an end to their working life. Most workers can immediately identify any visible signs of an STI. If the client is found to have one, the worker may decide to terminate the booking or offer an alternate service to the one agreed on...for example, hand relief instead of a sex service. Unfortunately, very little attention is paid to those clients who are willing to put sex workers health at risk.
Sex workers clients are not "perverts".
Although on occasion sex workers may provide a fantasy or fetish service, most clients simply visit workers because they crave the touch of another. Sex is a very important natural function, but not everyone has access to it when they desire it. There are many people who may pay for sex services, such as miners or oil-riggers who are away from town for extended periods, men with embarrassing sexual dysfunctions or more importantly, people with physical or intellectual disabilities.
Sex workers are not only women.
Although a considerable majority of the industry is female, there are also male and transgender workers. These sex workers often face very different problems, such as sexual identity and gender issues, decreased access to health services (many "sex worker friendly" services are located within women's health centres), and the added stigma of being assumed to be gay.
There are several different work environments in the sex industry, including brothel/parlour work, escort work, independent work and street based work. As a rule, street based sex workers' experiences are very different to those of other sex workers. Their lives often involve drug use, homelessness, violence and extreme poverty. Community attitudes and stereotypes are often based on the more visible street sex scene, and misguidedly applied to the industry as a whole.
Sex work is an occupation, not a lifestyle.
When someone says that they are a sex worker, people presume to know their entire lifestyle and make automatic judgements about their character. It is unlikely that similar assumptions would be made about a doctor, an accountant or a school teacher. Many sex workers work regular hours, earn their wages and pay their taxes like anyone else. Being a "prostitute" ends when they leave their place of work.
Sex workers are not all victims of child abuse.
A common misconception is that most sex workers suffered some form of sexual molestation as children, leaving them with altered views on sexuality. Research shows however, that the number of child abuse victims found within the industry is no different to that of the greater community. Women are not necessarily "forced into prostitution" by poor body image or a lack of self-esteem. On the contrary, many sex workers have great confidence in their own bodies, and are comfortable with their sexuality.
Rape and assault are not "part of the job description"
When a sex worker provides a service, it is negotiated and executed as a business transaction. The price of the service and what is included, is agreed upon before the booking begins. When a client performs a sex act that is not included in the service, he is committing an assault. Sex work itself is not an inherently risky occupation...the laws that surround the industry are what make it dangerous. A client is more likely to assault a worker, only because he knows that there is less risk of the crime being reported. Rape is very traumatic, regardless of the victim's occupation, and should always be treated as such.
Sex workers are not necessarily forced or coerced into entering the industry.
The average age of a WA sex worker is around 24. Most workers are well educated, with many currently attending a tertiary institution. The choice to enter the sex industry is usually economically driven, with many paying their way through university, putting their children through school, or purchasing cars and property. They are able to organise their working hours around their other obligations, such as TAFE classes, which would be difficult to do in any other part-time employment. Working for a "pimp" may be a common situation in some other countries, but in Australia most sex workers work of their own free will, for their own financial benefit. Some workers may choose to support their partners with their earnings, however this is a very different scenario to a "pimp".
Being a sex worker does not automatically mean you are a drug user.
According to Australian studies, illicit drug use within the sex industry is no greater than in the wider population. A common myth is that sex workers start using drugs to "cope" with their job. Some workers do choose to enter the sex industry to support a pre-existing drug habit, however most workers are quite capable of doing their job without the use of mind-altering substances. In fact, the majority of sex workers would much prefer to be lucid and alert while in the company of strangers, for their own safety.
Being a sex worker does not affect your ability to be a parent.
A large number of sex workers are single mothers, or women providing a second income in a low-income family. In almost all cases, the children are never aware of what their mother does for a living. Most working mothers have chosen the sex industry because they can earn a relatively large income in a minimal number of working hours, leaving them more quality time to spend with their children. It does not make a parent any less capable of providing a stable home. Even the Family Court does not take a sex worker's occupation into account during a custody case.
Sex workers are not responsible for the spread of STI's in the community.
Numerous studies have shown that Australian sex workers have a lower incidence of STI's (sexually transmitted infections) than the general community. Sex workers are very knowledgable about safe sex practices, and take their sexual health quite seriously. After all if their health suffers, so does their income. Contracting an illness such as HIV could mean an end to their working life. Most workers can immediately identify any visible signs of an STI. If the client is found to have one, the worker may decide to terminate the booking or offer an alternate service to the one agreed on...for example, hand relief instead of a sex service. Unfortunately, very little attention is paid to those clients who are willing to put sex workers health at risk.
Sex workers clients are not "perverts".
Although on occasion sex workers may provide a fantasy or fetish service, most clients simply visit workers because they crave the touch of another. Sex is a very important natural function, but not everyone has access to it when they desire it. There are many people who may pay for sex services, such as miners or oil-riggers who are away from town for extended periods, men with embarrassing sexual dysfunctions or more importantly, people with physical or intellectual disabilities.
Sex workers are not only women.
Although a considerable majority of the industry is female, there are also male and transgender workers. These sex workers often face very different problems, such as sexual identity and gender issues, decreased access to health services (many "sex worker friendly" services are located within women's health centres), and the added stigma of being assumed to be gay.
