Advocates’ Perspectives on Decriminalization and Safety Strategies for Female Sex Workers

Abstract

Street-level sex workers are at a high risk for physical and sexual violence as a result of the stigmatization and marginalization of the sex trade industry. This thesis investigates the perceptions held by Regina sex worker advocates concerning the role of decriminalization as it relates to the safety of female sex workers. It examines the advocates’ perceptions on the type and extent of violence experienced by sex workers and the possible strategies or solutions to increase their safety. The data collected from eight semi-structured interviews with local advocates was analyzed using Attride- Stirling’s thematic network analysis. The findings of this research indicate that Aboriginal women, many of who are struggling with poverty, addictions, and social exclusion are overrepresented in the Regina sex trade. According to the advocates’ perceptions, Regina sex workers experience high levels of violence on a daily basis. This research suggests that the physical, sexual, and emotional violence sex workers experience is part of larger systemic issues that are shaped by colonialism, racism, and gender inequality. Thus, the advocates interviewed for this project argued in favour of an alternative regulation approach to sex work in Canada in order to increase the safety of sex workers and reduce the threat of violence.