Sex Work Stigma

“Sex work is work, but it is stigmatized, criminalized, and marginalized work” (Bruckert & Parent , The Work of Sex Work , p. 64 ). This statement will be discussed and examined throughout this paper, by reviewing how criminalization, stigmatization and marginalization effect sex workers and the different following sectors: prostitution, sex tourism, stripping and pornography. It will also present the skills and challenges faced in the sex work industry. To begin, we must realize sex work is work and requires plenty of skills and competencies to properly comply its services. Such as being having physical strength and stamina (Bruckert & Parent , The Work of Sex Work , p. 61). Many people don’t consider sex work as work because of the stigma that is attached to it. However, people don’t notice that many other job requirements are quite similar to do sex worker do. For instance, jobs that need interpersonal skills like sales clerk, waitresses, hair stylists and sex worker all need to be patient, professional, sociable and polite well dealing with clients (Bruckert & Parent , The Work of Sex Work , p. 61). All of these occupations provide a “pleasuring presentation of themselves and respond to customer’s needs or wishes”

Both of these sectors can lead to each other from the use of networking (Abbott , p. 44). Just like any other job it provides opportunities but this is due to being part of the stigmatized and marginalized group that foster a relationship (Abbott, p. 55). Nonetheless, stripping is considered to also be a very difficult job and requires a lot of emotional labor and physical strength (Bruckert, Working the Club, pp. 91-92 ). These workers get little protection from their employees and appear to blame the victims (Bruckert, Working the Club, p. 92). Both of this sectors have similar challenges and stereotypes that they have to face in the sex