Few professions are as shrouded in myth, misinformation, and ignorance as sex work. Across the globe workers in the sex industry must deal with social stigma and prejudice on an almost daily basis. And so – in an effort to put that right – we decided to shed light on some of the most popularly held myths and misconceptions about the industry.
Read on for 17 of the biggest myths about sex workers, debunked.

Myth #1. Sex workers put the general population at risk for sexually transmitted infections.

In fact, a study conducted by Elena Jeffreys, Janelle Fawkes, and Zahra Stardust – published by Scientific Research – shows that sex workers are less likely to carry sexually transmitted diseases than the general population. Condom usage among Australian sex workers exceeds 99%. Practising safe sex – whether with a sex worker or otherwise – is the only way to reduce your chances of catching an STI. Sexworkersproject.org also covers this topic in their paper; Criminal laws on sex work and HIV transmission.

Myth #2. Engaging in sex work is the same as advocating trafficking.

Sex work is not the cause of trafficking; it is the criminalisation of sex work in some societies which makes it a target for traffickers. Studies carried out by the International Labour Organisation showed that the majority of individuals trafficked between 1995 and 2004 ended up in involuntary servitude, restaurant work, or sweatshop labour, with only a small percentage trafficked into the sex trade.

Myth #3. Decriminalising sex work will make the trafficking problem much, much worse.

It is the criminalisation of sex work which pushes it underground, making it attractive to trafficking gangs. The US State Department (where sex work is illegal in most states) has made the claim that tolerating or decriminalising the trade will increase instances of trafficking, but have repeatedly failed to provide compelling evidence to support this.

Myth #4. Criminalising sex work is the only way to protect women.

On the contrary. In her study, Elena Jeffries concluded that much of the evidence points to self-regulation as being successful in the sex trade. The argument that gets trotted out again and again, is that criminalising the industry protects women, but time and time again this approach achieves the opposite.

Myth #5. No sex worker really wants to do what they do.

There is a myriad of reasons why a woman may decide to enter into sex work, money is one of the biggest with sex workers making a very good income. It’s not the case that all sex workers are desperate individuals with nowhere else to turn. Like all people, sex workers need support, education, and empowerment if they are to achieve a respected social status.

Myth #6. Only women who have been abused would choose to become sex workers.

This is another generalisation, and one which repeatedly fails to stand up to scrutiny. In reality, sexual abuse and assault are problems across all strata of society. There is no strong correlation which points to prostitution as a product of sexual abuse.

Myth #7. All – or at least most – sex workers are forced into it against their will.

Trafficking is a serious problem where sex work is illegal but – as mentioned above – to view it as unique to the sex trade business is incredibly disingenuous and dangerous. The above statement is simply untrue, and represents part of the social stigmas that sex workers are subjected to.

Myth #8. Punishing customers will crush the sex industry.

The problem with punishment is that it tends to drive the industry underground. This kind of approach does nothing to defend the rights of sex workers or to curb human trafficking. Instead, it simply removes the visible symptoms of the perceived problem, leaving it more susceptible to other forms of exploitation.

Myth #9. Sex workers only deal with the weirder side of sex.

Sex work is as diverse and varied as sexual activity itself, and this is reflected in the services that workers provide for clients. However, the Australian Study of Health and Relationships discovered that almost 95% of services requested by male clients from female sex workers involved simple vaginal intercourse. And just what is “the weirder side of sex” anyway?

Myth #10. Sex worker = drug addict.

Another dangerous and unfounded stereotype. While drug use does occur within the industry – as it does in all sections of society – a study from Consumer Affairs Victoria found that less than 10% of sex workers are using their pay to support a drug habit.

Myth #11. Pimps control sex workers through drugs and coercion.

There is a popular public image of the “pimp” figure, coercing groups of workers through drug addiction and physical intimidation. Managers and owners of reputable brothels in Australia & other countries where sex work is legal are business owners that look after their staff a great deal. Good staff are the reasons why customers come back for repeat business, so it’s like any other business.

Where you see more of the ‘pimp’ figure is where sex work operates underground.

Myth #12. Sex workers are ruining marriages by encouraging men to cheat.

The old “ruining the sanctity of marriage” argument is something of a one-size-fits-all defence used against everything from gay and lesbian unions to sex work. The fact is – and this is backed up by the Australian Study of Health and Relationships – that single men are far more likely to engage the services of a sex worker than those who are married or simply in a relationship.

Myth #13. Almost all sex workers are streetwalkers.

Once again, this is part of the framework of misconceptions that many hold regarding the sex trade, mostly due to American movies. The Australian Study of Health and Relationships found that street sex work makes up just under 6% of the total number of sex transactions carried out each year.

Myth #14. The majority of men have visited a sex worker for one reason or another.

The same study also blew this one out of the water, showing that just over 15% of men had paid for sex at some point in their lives, compared to only 0.1% of women. This is some way short of anything that could be classed as a majority.

Myth #15. The physical safety of a sex worker is jeopardised every day.

While criminalised working environments do put sex workers at risk, these risks are far more likely to be emotional or social ones caused by societal attitudes and stigmas and the wider implications of these public mindsets.

Myth #16. All sex workers are women.

The fact that this misguided point of view is held as fact by many shows the level of misinformation and societal ignorance that clouds the debate on sex work. No, of course not all sex workers are women, just as not all people who pay for sex are heterosexual males.

REFERENCES:

http://www.aic.gov.au/publications/previous%20series/lcj/1-20/working/chapter%204%20the%20working%20lives%20of%20prostitutes.html

http://sexworkersproject.org/media-toolkit/downloads/08-Myths.pdf

http://www.consumer.vic.gov.au/library/publications/resources-and-education/research/working-in-victorian-brothels-2009.pdf

http://media.sbs.com.au/home/upload_media/site_20_rand_1921127331_ashr.pdf

http://www.scirp.org/journal/PaperInformation.aspx?paperID=22595%20