Book detailing research into the sex industry by Bristol University. This book seeks to bring to the centre the voices of those directly involved in different areas of today’s sex industry.
This research is important for two reasons. First, it addresses the ethics of who speaks on behalf of the sex industry and the challenges of producing collaborative research. Second, this work is novel in revisiting participants over time to ask them to reflect back on their experience of being involved in a research project and of being represented in a government report.
The book comes out with some interesting recommendations for policy makers, police and academics.
For policy makers
• The overwhelming issue identified by participants in this book was the legal and policy framework for the sex industry, particularly the ban on paired or collective working.
• Both brothel workers and erotic dancers/strippers identified the employment practices and working conditions in managed brothels and strip venues as being the key drivers of harm, rather than commercial sexual services per se. These include:
◊ exorbitant house fees (commissions paid to venue managers or for reception, security and cleaning facilities in managed brothels);
◊ toxic cultures (use of drink or drugs or policies which promote competition – and risk-taking – between workers);
◊ the unstable and inconsistently policed regulatory environment, which deters the reporting of crimes and perpetuates employment malpractice.
• The insecure work status of many involved in the sex industry meant that they were unable to access either welfare or income support through the pandemic. Finding ways to protect the groups least able to withstand income volatility should be the priority of all governments, in ordinary and extraordinary times.
For police
• Low trust in the police means that many sex workers will not report crime which occurs either within or outside of sex working. This allows perpetrators to act with relative impunity.
• Policing should be consistent, fair and focused on individuals who perpetrate violence and exploitation, and on reducing harm for sex workers.
For academics and policy makers
• While robust evidence is important to making good policy, repeated consultations and data collection without any resulting material change to the lives of those involved in the sex industry is damaging to trust. Short funding timeframes and shifting political and policy attention mean that the impact of such work on participants is often not recognised.
• In seeking to ‘represent’ the sex industry, we must be mindful of who speaks and why. Experiences may vary depending on setting and individual context.
• A less punitive legal framework for those selling sex and more robust social support (to manage loss of income, health challenges, becoming a parent/carer, migrating, or enduring discrimination) would better empower people to determine their involvement in the sex industry.