Intersecting structural barriers to reporting violence among men and non-binary sex workers under end-demand criminalization in Canada
A growing body of evidence indicates that sex work criminalization is linked to increased risk of violence and undermines the occupational health and safety (OHS) of sex workers. However, less is known about men and non-binary sex workers’ (MNBSWs) experiences with workplace violence and police-base...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Elsevier
2023-12-01
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| Series: | SSM: Qualitative Research in Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667321523000951 |
| _version_ | 1797400770566422528 |
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| author | Brett Koenig Alka Murphy Jenn McDermid Spencer Johnston Rod Knight Mark Gilbert Kate Shannon Andrea Krüsi |
| author_facet | Brett Koenig Alka Murphy Jenn McDermid Spencer Johnston Rod Knight Mark Gilbert Kate Shannon Andrea Krüsi |
| author_sort | Brett Koenig |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | A growing body of evidence indicates that sex work criminalization is linked to increased risk of violence and undermines the occupational health and safety (OHS) of sex workers. However, less is known about men and non-binary sex workers’ (MNBSWs) experiences with workplace violence and police-based systems for reporting violence under end-demand criminalization. To address this gap, we conducted 21 semi-structured interviews with MNBSWs in British Columbia between 2020 and 2021. Analysis drew on structural determinants of health and intersectionality frameworks. Most participants described sex work as not inherently dangerous. When participants experienced workplace violence, many described feeling morally obligated to report these incidents to protect others. However, participants experienced barriers to reporting violence to police due to intersecting sex work and substance use criminalization and stigmatization, anti-Indigenous racism, anti-poverty stigma, homophobia, transphobia, and gender stereotypes. Participants further described the need for gender-inclusive community-based systems of reporting violence against sex workers. Our findings demonstrate how intersecting forms of criminalization, stigmatization, and discrimination prevent MNBSWs from reporting workplace violence. Along with calls to decriminalize sex work and substance use, these findings highlight the need to develop community-based systems for reporting violence that account for intersecting identities, including gender, to improve OHS conditions for MNBSWs. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T02:00:17Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-03c820b42ca947808a653805aa7057da |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2667-3215 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T02:00:17Z |
| publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | SSM: Qualitative Research in Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-03c820b42ca947808a653805aa7057da2023-12-08T04:47:06ZengElsevierSSM: Qualitative Research in Health2667-32152023-12-014100311Intersecting structural barriers to reporting violence among men and non-binary sex workers under end-demand criminalization in CanadaBrett Koenig0Alka Murphy1Jenn McDermid2Spencer Johnston3Rod Knight4Mark Gilbert5Kate Shannon6Andrea Krüsi7Centre for Gender and Sexual Health Equity, 1190 Hornby St, Vancouver, BC V6Z 1Y6, CanadaCentre for Gender and Sexual Health Equity, 1190 Hornby St, Vancouver, BC V6Z 1Y6, CanadaCentre for Gender and Sexual Health Equity, 1190 Hornby St, Vancouver, BC V6Z 1Y6, CanadaHealth Initiative for Men, Vancouver, 1033 Davie Street, Vancouver, BC, V6E 1M5, CanadaCentre for Gender and Sexual Health Equity, 1190 Hornby St, Vancouver, BC V6Z 1Y6, Canada; Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, St. Paul’s Hospital, 1081 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC, V6Z 1Y6, Canada; British Columbia Centre for Substance Use Research, 1045 Howe St Suite 400, Vancouver, BC, V6Z 2A9, CanadaCentre for Gender and Sexual Health Equity, 1190 Hornby St, Vancouver, BC V6Z 1Y6, Canada; Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, St. Paul’s Hospital, 1081 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC, V6Z 1Y6, CanadaCentre for Gender and Sexual Health Equity, 1190 Hornby St, Vancouver, BC V6Z 1Y6, Canada; Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, St. Paul’s Hospital, 1081 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC, V6Z 1Y6, CanadaCentre for Gender and Sexual Health Equity, 1190 Hornby St, Vancouver, BC V6Z 1Y6, Canada; Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, St. Paul’s Hospital, 1081 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC, V6Z 1Y6, Canada; Corresponding author. Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Centre for Gender and Sexual Health Equity, 1190 Hornby St, Vancouver, BC, V6Z 1Y6, Canada.A growing body of evidence indicates that sex work criminalization is linked to increased risk of violence and undermines the occupational health and safety (OHS) of sex workers. However, less is known about men and non-binary sex workers’ (MNBSWs) experiences with workplace violence and police-based systems for reporting violence under end-demand criminalization. To address this gap, we conducted 21 semi-structured interviews with MNBSWs in British Columbia between 2020 and 2021. Analysis drew on structural determinants of health and intersectionality frameworks. Most participants described sex work as not inherently dangerous. When participants experienced workplace violence, many described feeling morally obligated to report these incidents to protect others. However, participants experienced barriers to reporting violence to police due to intersecting sex work and substance use criminalization and stigmatization, anti-Indigenous racism, anti-poverty stigma, homophobia, transphobia, and gender stereotypes. Participants further described the need for gender-inclusive community-based systems of reporting violence against sex workers. Our findings demonstrate how intersecting forms of criminalization, stigmatization, and discrimination prevent MNBSWs from reporting workplace violence. Along with calls to decriminalize sex work and substance use, these findings highlight the need to develop community-based systems for reporting violence that account for intersecting identities, including gender, to improve OHS conditions for MNBSWs.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667321523000951Sex workSexual and gender minoritiesMen’s healthOccupational healthViolence |
| spellingShingle | Brett Koenig Alka Murphy Jenn McDermid Spencer Johnston Rod Knight Mark Gilbert Kate Shannon Andrea Krüsi Intersecting structural barriers to reporting violence among men and non-binary sex workers under end-demand criminalization in Canada SSM: Qualitative Research in Health Sex work Sexual and gender minorities Men’s health Occupational health Violence |
| title | Intersecting structural barriers to reporting violence among men and non-binary sex workers under end-demand criminalization in Canada |
| title_full | Intersecting structural barriers to reporting violence among men and non-binary sex workers under end-demand criminalization in Canada |
| title_fullStr | Intersecting structural barriers to reporting violence among men and non-binary sex workers under end-demand criminalization in Canada |
| title_full_unstemmed | Intersecting structural barriers to reporting violence among men and non-binary sex workers under end-demand criminalization in Canada |
| title_short | Intersecting structural barriers to reporting violence among men and non-binary sex workers under end-demand criminalization in Canada |
| title_sort | intersecting structural barriers to reporting violence among men and non binary sex workers under end demand criminalization in canada |
| topic | Sex work Sexual and gender minorities Men’s health Occupational health Violence |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667321523000951 |
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