Exploring the role of place in sex work through participant photography

Abstract

In this article, the authors explore the place-based experiences of sex workers and how these experiences intersect with the juridical realm of sex work. The article begins with an overview of the model informing Canadian legislation, how these laws influence spatial practices, and the impact of these practices on the lives of sex workers. Drawing on findings from a visual research study where 15 sex workers used photography and art to explore their lived experiences, the authors describe how sex work places are shaped by their juridical contexts, influencing experiences of power and privilege, collaboration, identity, stigma, autonomy, safety and support services. These findings highlight that place is a critical factor shaping participants’ overall experiences in the sex industry and contributes to the disparate realities of sex work in the Canadian context. Participant photographs are also described in this article, as these visual representations further communicate the role of place as experienced and understood by sex workers. Recommendations include legislative considerations, inclusive service delivery practices as identified by participants, and a call for further research that examines place-based experiences of sex work on an international scale.

“We Knew No One Else Had Our Back except Us”: Recommendations for Creating an Accountability Care Framework with Sex Workers in Eastern Canada

“…While key learning points from the group sessions have been documented elsewhere (see Sitter et al 2022), this article provides a focused review on the photo-elicitation interview data. As part of the interview, participants used photographs to convey and represent experiences that affect their lives as a person living and/or working as a sex worker.…”

“Carefully Curated/For Heart and Soul”: Sensing Place Identity in Sex Workplaces

“…The material environments of sex workplaces, particularly sex workers' needs and desires surrounding their places of work, remain elusive within scholarship [1]. Research conjoining sex work and place-defined as a "meaningful location" (p. 7) [2]-is sparse [1,3]. However, widespread scholarship demonstrates that outdoor sex work has much higher risks, including violence, compared to sex work occurring in studios, brothels, and the sex workers' own homes [4][5][6][7][8][9].…”