Protection for Sex Workers

TW// Sexual Violence & Drug Abuse

Prostitution is a dangerous job and workers are put at risk of getting injured in a number of ways. Sex workers, especially low-income workers who tend to work on the streets are the most at risk for being sexually and physically assaulted not to mention the mental health problems many sex workers battle. Legalizing sex work is a way for workers to be protected from this level of violence as well as giving them a safer way to do their job resulting in higher levels of healthy workers.

Sex workers, especially street-based sex workers, are often assaulted by clients, bosses, and even bystanders. Since many sex workers are not safe, even from their employers, laws that stop and punish those who abuse their workers can create a safe space for sex workers to safely do their job.

Given the nature of their jobs, sex workers are much more likely to contract a disease and if they are unable to seek professional medical help, they can not only cause more harm to themselves but also spread disease to others. In Nevada, where some forms of sex work are legal, there are laws and regulations in place that state workers must get monthly tests to check for syphilis and HIV as well as weekly tests for gonorrhea and chlamydia. These laws are a great example of how governments can protect clients but more importantly sex workers from getting infections and diseases. These laws also directly increase sex workers ability to access quality healthcare which is another very large issue.

This article published by PLOS Medicine looks at cases where sex work is legalized, workers are proven to be safer due to protection from the law. By creating an environment in which sex workers are not put at risk of being prosecuted for their work, workers are more likely to step forward to seek medical attention keeping them safer and healthier. As most sex workers have experienced some level of sexual violence, many have also developed trauma from those experiences leading to various mental health problems. Depression and anxiety were the most common types of mental illnesses found in various studies. Without proper medical treatment, their conditions can get very dangerous and make life very difficult for them to continue working.

As a coping mechanism, a lot of sex workers turn to drugs but this only leads to more health issues. Without access to proper medical care, unfortunately, drugs are the next best option. The Fellowship of Postgraduate Medicine found 78.3% of prostitutes they surveyed were drug users.

In areas where prostitution is illegal workers are not willing to seek out professional help because they do not want to risk being arrested, deported, and some fear getting stigmatized by those who are supposed to help them. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs researchers discussed how many sex workers do not even have access to health care.

With laws in place to help protect sex workers, violence against women will decrease, women will be more likely to report those who have assaulted them and seek out medical help. This study found 52% in favor of improving the current situations of sex workers. While decriminalizing is not the same as legalizing, it is a good start to helping sex workers. Regardless of how one might feel about sex work, workers are still people who need to be protected, and implementing regulations and laws can keep them as safe as possible.