There is a real lack of understanding about sex work and the laws surrounding it in our community. This lack of understanding helps perpetuate myths and stereotypes, which in turn leads to stigma and discrimination. Part of our mission at Peers is to provide sex workers, their families, potential donors and volunteers, and the public at large with accurate information about the sex industry so that we can design effective service and advocacy for the diverse people involved and associated with the sex industry.
The purpose is to debunk many of the myths and stereotypes about people working in the sex industry by providing a more complex and nuanced picture. People who purchase sexual services: This document provides some of what we know about the general characteristics of people who purchase sexual services as well as their reasons for doing so. People who work as managers in the sex industry : This primer unpacks some of the many stereotypes that exist about the people who help manage the sex industry.
It provides a short history of evolving prostitution laws and reforms in Canada. Stigma and the sex industry : This primer explains what stigma is, and how it impacts the health and well-being of sex workers. Some academic research is drawn on to explain how stigma can have a direct impact on the health and welfare of people who are stigmatised. Health and the sex industry : This primer talks about the physical, mental, and emotional health of people working in the sex industry, including some of the health problems that are common in the industry, and why.
For footnote references for the above PDF documents, please click here. For deeper reading please read some of these reports, articles, and academic papers that touch on different aspects of the sex industry. The Pivot Legal Society has written extensively on this subject so please visit their site if wanting more information. It focuses specifically on the idea of moving toward decriminalization. This report provides insights into a highly secretive but well-developed industry that employs thousands of British Columbians.
It considers the impact of criminalizing the purchase of sexual services. Impossible Eh? Is Anyone Listening? This includes such peoples as managers, receptionists, website developers, drivers, and the like.
