Motherhood and Street-based Sex Work in Coimbra, Portugal

ABSTRACT

Purpose

This paper aims to explore and understand the social issues that sex workers face as mothers and to improve social work practices with high stigmatized persons.

Methods

This study has adopted a qualitative methodology. Data were collected through 12 semi-structured interviews and thematic analysis was performed.

Results

Despite several constraints, including socioeconomic issues and stigma, having children is central for sex workers’ lives and they considered themselves as good mothers, whose self-sacrifice on their children’s behalf is not socially recognized or approved.

Discussion

Social representation of sex work undermines sex workers’ self-perception as mothers and their relationship with social workers.

Conclusion

We suggest a non-judgmental and holistic approach to address the special needs of sex workers who are also mothers. Furthermore, it is important to raise awareness on social representations that support social workers’ everyday practices.

KEYWORDS:

• Motherhood
• mothering
• sex work
• social work
• social representations

Acknowledgments

The author would like to acknowledge all the research participants.

Disclosure Statement

The author declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia [SFRH/BD/78139/2011].