“It’s like Being an Electrician, You’re Gonna Get Shocked”: Differences in the Perceived Risks of Indoor and Outdoor Sex Work and Its Impact on Exiting

ABSTRACT

This study sought to understand differences in risks of indoor versus outdoor sex work and how perceptions of risk influenced sex workers’ motivation to exit. Among the 19 indoor and outdoor sex workers included in this qualitative study, themes of risks included: violence versus death, discovery, romantic relationships, arrest, health risks, loss, and “the unknown”. Results of this study show that sex workers have a nuanced perception of risks and exiting motivations dependent upon the sex trade market. These results offer suggestions for policy and intervention practices uniquely tailored for indoor and outdoor sex workers.

KEYWORDS:

• Internet-facilitated prostitution
• online prostitution
• Backpage.com
• narrative
• qualitative

Acknowledgement

This research was supported by the Arizona State University Graduate College’s Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship (2012-2013) and the Arizona Board of Regents’ Doctoral Research Grant (2013).

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This research was supported by the Arizona State University Graduate College's Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship (2012-2013) and the Arizona Board of Regents' Doctoral Research Grant (2013).