Abstract:We argue commercial sex workers have rights to healthcare and psychosocial support. While decriminalization is not legally enacted in most countries, we would suggest these workers rights include freedom from harassment and opportunities to lead healthy lives. The need for healthcare access for all is heightened in the COVID-19 pandemic where some people flout rules on lockdown by engaging with commercial sex workers and may unwittingly spread SARS-CoV-2 in so doing. Unrestricted healthcare access without stig… Show more
“…Sex workers have long reported mainstream general practice and mental health services being largely inaccessible to them, for example due to appointment systems not being appropriate to their needs, difficulties registering with general practitioner (GP) surgeries, inability to pay for the cost of telephone calls to GP surgeries and fear or experience of stigma or judgment from staff (Mastrocola et al, 2015;Potter et al, 2022). Sex workers have also been reported to fear seeking health care, pre-pandemic, due to the stigma and discrimination they are exposed to in their communities and fear of being exposed to the authorities (Taylor-Robinson et al, 2021).…”
The COVID-19 pandemic profoundly affected physical, mental, and economic well-being across the globe and has disproportionately affected certain vulnerable groups. This paper provides a scoping review of literature on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on sex workers, published between December 2019 and December 2022. Six databases were systematically searched, identifying 1009 citations; 63 studies were included in the review. Thematic analysis revealed eight main themes: financial issues; exposure to harm; alternate ways of working; COVID-19 knowledge, protective behaviors, fear, and risk; well-being, mental health, and coping; access to support; access to health care; and the impact of COVID-19 on research with sex workers. COVID-associated restrictions led to reduced work and income, leaving many sex workers struggling to cover basic needs; additionally, government protections excluded those working in the informal economy. Fearing the loss of their already reduced number of clients, many felt compelled to compromise both prices and protective measures. Although some engaged in online sex work, this raised concerns about visibility and was impossible for those without technological access or skills. Many feared COVID-19, but felt pressure to continue working, often with clients who refused to wear masks or share exposure history. Other negative impacts on well-being related to the pandemic included reduced access to financial support or health care. Marginalized populations (and especially those in professions which require close contact like sex workers) need further support and capacity-building within the community to recover from the impact of COVID-19.
“…Sex workers have long reported mainstream general practice and mental health services being largely inaccessible to them, for example due to appointment systems not being appropriate to their needs, difficulties registering with general practitioner (GP) surgeries, inability to pay for the cost of telephone calls to GP surgeries and fear or experience of stigma or judgment from staff (Mastrocola et al, 2015;Potter et al, 2022). Sex workers have also been reported to fear seeking health care, pre-pandemic, due to the stigma and discrimination they are exposed to in their communities and fear of being exposed to the authorities (Taylor-Robinson et al, 2021).…”
The COVID-19 pandemic profoundly affected physical, mental, and economic well-being across the globe and has disproportionately affected certain vulnerable groups. This paper provides a scoping review of literature on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on sex workers, published between December 2019 and December 2022. Six databases were systematically searched, identifying 1009 citations; 63 studies were included in the review. Thematic analysis revealed eight main themes: financial issues; exposure to harm; alternate ways of working; COVID-19 knowledge, protective behaviors, fear, and risk; well-being, mental health, and coping; access to support; access to health care; and the impact of COVID-19 on research with sex workers. COVID-associated restrictions led to reduced work and income, leaving many sex workers struggling to cover basic needs; additionally, government protections excluded those working in the informal economy. Fearing the loss of their already reduced number of clients, many felt compelled to compromise both prices and protective measures. Although some engaged in online sex work, this raised concerns about visibility and was impossible for those without technological access or skills. Many feared COVID-19, but felt pressure to continue working, often with clients who refused to wear masks or share exposure history. Other negative impacts on well-being related to the pandemic included reduced access to financial support or health care. Marginalized populations (and especially those in professions which require close contact like sex workers) need further support and capacity-building within the community to recover from the impact of COVID-19.
“…Choices and feelings of ownership around the decisions to commodify the self are interesting. There are estimated to be 40 to 42 million sex workers in the world (Taylor‐Robinson et al, 2021). While the reasons to engage in sex work can be complicated, there are interesting implications for feelings of body ownership.…”
Section: Characteristics Of the Target Of Ownershipmentioning
Research on psychological ownership is prevalent in the consumer domain. This article details the theoretical core of psychological ownership, integrating research in consumer psychology and marketing. The underlying motivations behind psychological ownership are also considered as well as the antecedents and consequences of feeling ownership. This article discusses how consumers signal and infer a sense of ownership, acknowledging that the characteristics of the target of ownership vary greatly to include physical targets as well as those that are intangible. Research is discussed on the lifecycle of ownership considering the formation, perception, and eventual dissolution of psychological ownership. The authors note various avenues for future research in psychological ownership with the aim to spur research in consumer psychology and feelings of ownership.
“…Ryan and McGarry (2022) note that language barriers may also be a contributing factor in the lack of crucial health-care information and ability to access services among FSWs, particularly those who are migrant workers. Consequently, the provision of unrestricted access to health care without stigma would protect female sex workers and their clients, which could be achieved through increased availability of health-care information and services (Taylor-Robinson et al , 2021).…”
Purpose
This paper aims to describe the unique health challenges facing female commercial sex workers (FSWs), including issues related to their marginalisation and difficulty accessing health care. It proposes solutions to some of these problems.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper addresses this sensitive subject through the methodology of a literature review, drawing on a variety of relevant published literature to inform a modern understanding of the current health challenges faced by this population.
Findings
This paper discusses issues around criminalisation of commercial sex workers, complexities of family planning, sexually transmitted infection prevention, mental health and substance abuse and how increasing health-care worker awareness of the health needs of this vulnerable population can be a positive step in building trust within this relationship. Although adoption of the proposed recommendations put forth in this paper may help to eliminate some of the barriers encountered by female sex workers, further research is recommended.
Originality/value
The subject of commercial sex worker health care is neglected in the academic literature. This review explores the topic in an open and balanced manner and presents a broad and updated overview of the current health-care challenges faced by FSWs as well as opportunities for optimising access and quality of sex worker health care.
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