Exploring the impact of stigma and discrimination on the lived experiences of cis-gender women in Australia's street-based sex trade

Abstract

Across Australian states, territories, and municipalities, sex work and other variations of the sex industry are not governed by any unified legal or policy framework. In Victoria, street-based sex work is illegal, which negatively impacts sex workers by exacerbating stigma and discrimination, leading to social exclusion, violence and reluctance of service access. Current legislation which sees the criminalisation of cis-women street-based sex workers has forced cis-women street-based sex workers underground, thus exposing them to violence, harassment and many other forms of abuse. Sex workers experiencing stigma and discrimination have been subjected to violence, are reluctant to access services for fear of further stigma and discrimination, and are found to have, or be susceptible to, mental health issues. The aim of the study was to investigate the impacts of enacted stigma and discrimination and perceptions (internalised stigma) on cis-gender women cis-women street-based sex workers. Stigma is identified as negative attitudes by society towards sections of community who are considered 'deviant' or socially unacceptable. Such sections can include but are not limited to those abusing drugs, suffering mental illnesses, living with HIV/AIDS and/or individuals who are homosexual. Discrimination refers to prejudicial actions directed towards stigmatised sections of community, and this has the potential to result in social exclusion. The findings in this research support existing studies on the impacts of enacted stigma and discrimination yet contributes to underdeveloped data around the experiences of enacted and perceived stigma and discrimination against cis-women cis-women street-based sex workers in Australia.

Date of Award	2021
Original language	English