Educating Universities: Understanding and Responding to Student Sex Workers

Trueman, Gaynor; Sanders, Teela; Griffin, Jessica Hyer

doi:10.1007/978-3-031-07777-7_10

Cited by 1 publication

(6 citation statements)

References 42 publications

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“…At the time of writing, most UK universities have no official policy pertaining to student sex workers, with support primarily coming from student unions (Sex Work Research Hub, 2020). In a recent attempt to overcome a lack of policy and support services, Trueman et al (2020aTrueman et al ( , 2020b provided student sex work toolkits for staff and students in higher education with information on legality, support and national services. See Trueman et al (2020aTrueman et al ( , 2020b for a comprehensive review.…”

Section: Policies and Support For Student Sex Workersmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In a recent attempt to overcome a lack of policy and support services, Trueman et al (2020aTrueman et al ( , 2020b provided student sex work toolkits for staff and students in higher education with information on legality, support and national services. See Trueman et al (2020aTrueman et al ( , 2020b for a comprehensive review.…”

Section: Policies and Support For Student Sex Workersmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Despite some progress, acknowledging student sex workers' careers and empowering choices still needs further development. To address this, the authors recommend the development of strengths-based literature and policies like the Student Sex Work Toolkit (Trueman et al, 2020a(Trueman et al, , 2020b. These documents provide up-to-date guidance, fostering understanding, respectful support and inclusivity for student sex workers within higher education.…”

Section: Support From Universitiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The increase in internet-based sex work has also led to concerns regarding privacy and anonymity, threatening the ability of sex workers to avoid being identified and subsequently judged (Sanders et al , 2016; Trueman et al , 2020b). Maintaining anonymity is the greatest and most common challenge that student sex workers face, with 43% experiencing discrimination because of their work (NUS, 2016; Sagar et al , 2015a).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Given the estimation of student sex workers in the literature and their motivations for engagement, their access to support has been explored. Trueman et al (2020a) proposed that appropriate services for student sex workers are crucial for student physical and mental safety and well-being and that universities have a duty of care to all students, regardless of occupation. Yet, less than 15% of student sex workers reported feeling sufficiently supported by their university or student union (NUS, 2016; Roberts et al , 2013).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Exploration of student sex work in the North East of England

Haskins,

Osu,

Carr

2023

JFP

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Purpose This paper aims to explore the prevalence, motivations and support for student sex work within North East higher education institutions. With limited existing research in this area, this study fills a crucial gap in understanding student sex work in the UK and its specific manifestation in the North East region. Design/methodology/approach To achieve its objectives, this study adopted an exploratory, cross-sectional design conducted entirely online due to the Covid-19 pandemic. A mixed-methodology approach was used, inspired by previous research, gathering quantitative data through a semi-structured questionnaire and qualitative data through open-ended survey questions. Findings The study revealed that 11.4% of students engaged in sex work, primarily in indirect and online-based forms. lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBTQ)+ students were more likely to participate in sex work compared to heterosexual students. Financial difficulties and lifestyle preferences were identified as significant motivations for student sex work. Research limitations/implications A limitation of the study was the lack of diversity in the sample, with predominantly young, white, heterosexual and cis-gender females, potentially neglecting other demographics' struggles. Future research should include larger and more diverse samples to ensure representative findings. Practical implications The research highlights the need for greater awareness and support for student sex workers within North East universities. Policies and services should consider the unique challenges faced by LGBTQ+ student sex workers to reduce stigma and potential dangers. Social implications Understanding the prevalence of student sex work sheds light on the need to challenge societal assumptions and stigmas surrounding sex work, particularly concerning gender and sexuality. Originality/value This study breaks new ground by providing novel insights into an understudied research area – the prevalence of student sex work in North East England. The findings lay the foundation for future research and can inform policies and support systems to improve the safety and well-being of student sex workers. Furthermore, the study contributes to broader discussions on gender, sexuality and sex work in academic settings.

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