Sex Worker Positive: How to be an Ally

You know a sex worker! Whether you are involved in sex work, a customer of the sex industry, a service provider or maybe a family or friend, you know (whether you know it or not) someone involved in sex work. There are many ways in which you can support these friends, clients, coworkers etc. of yours.

To begin with, it is imperative to understand the continuum of sexual exchange. On one end the continuum there are people who make a choice to be involved in sex work while on the other end there are people involved in the sex industry who are experiencing exploitation. In the middle of the continuum there are people whose level of choice may be influenced by struggles for money or with other concerns. Allow the person involved in sex work to name where they are on the continuum and what their needs are. Assuming that all sex workers are victims who are trying to get out of the industry or need help does not recognize that not all sex workers want or are prepared to exit. Using a harm reduction and rights based framework will support sex workers where they are at on the continuum and recognize workers’ right to self-determination.

Whether you believe that sex work is inherently exploitative or that it is a person’s right to choose, be conscious of your own values & attitudes and how they influence your actions. Stigma and discrimination is one of the biggest barriers to sex workers’ rights and safety. Isolation and marginalization occur when sex workers experience judgment from the people in their lives, their friends, service provides, and clients, distancing the workers from the support and services they may need. Seek out sex worker friendly information, materials and resources. Know the truth behind the mainstream information that can be biased against sex workers or offer inaccurate information. Education & awareness helps fight against stigma, so be an advocate for sex workers rights and fight the discrimination that exists. For an agency, know the needs that sex workers face and create a resource bank in your organization that will address sex work issues and have them out in the open. This allows people to know that you are aware and comfortable addressing the needs of people involved in the industry.

Recognize that for many people sex work is work and it should be treated as a form of employment. It is false to believe that a sex worker can be bought or rented, but instead workers set their own rules and limits as to what services will be performed, the price and the duration. Sex workers have professional skills, boundaries, and rights that must all be respected, and should have access to the same work-related health and safety as all professionals.