Coping with Stigma, Discrimination and Violence: Sex Workers Talk about their Experiences

This report proceeds as follows:
Chapter I provides an introduction to the purpose
of the study, SWEAT’s role as an advocate for sex
worker rights, the various role-players in the sex
work industry and the legal context in which
they operate.
Chapter II sets out the methodology employed
in this study, describing the theoretical framework
employed, the development of the research
instruments and the research process. It highlights
the diffi culties of doing research with a hard to reach
community operating within a criminalised context.
Chapter III sets out the results of this research.
It begins with a profi le of the participants and
proceeds to discuss the diffi culties faced by sex
workers in respect of the key themes: stigma
and isolation, discrimination, and violence.
Under each of these themes we discuss not
only the nature and extent of these diffi culties,
but also the consequences and the coping
strategies employed by people engaged in
the sex work industry.
Chapter IV completes the report with key
conclusions and recommendations.

ISBN: 0-620-35501-8
Publisher: SWEAT
Year of Publication: 2005