Normative Beliefs, Risks, and the Role of Stigma in Exiting Prostitution

Background and Purpose: Exiting street-based prostitution requires that a complex set of factors coalesce to facilitate one’s ability to leave prostitution. Relationships with significant others (i.e., family, romantic partners, friends) engaged and not engaged in prostitution are one factor that can influence a woman’s intentions to exit or continue selling sex. The purpose of this qualitative study was to delineate how perceptions of risk to one’s relationships, as well as expectations and stigma from significant others encourage or discourage exiting.

Methods: This paper presents data from three qualitative studies (N=27) conducted in 2012-2014 across two Southwestern states. Interviews followed a narrative tradition. Participants, recruited via word-of-mouth and fliers posted in treatment centers and other high-prostitution areas, included mostly White and Hispanic cisgender women. Participants ranged in age from 19 to 57 years old (M = 35.4, SD = 12.1) and spent an average of 7.9 years selling sex. Nine were strictly engaged in off-street prostitution. A semi-structured interview guide focused on reasons for exiting but included open-ended questions about how they first got involved in the sex trade and the pros (benefits) and cons (dangers/risks) of the sex trade for context to understand their experiences. Participants were also probed about how specific relationships (e.g., friendships, romantic partnerships, family, children, etc.) influenced their intentions to exit. A descriptive/interpretive qualitative analytic technique was used in order to describe a phenomenon (i.e., relationships, risks, impact on exiting) with an interpretative or explanatory lens that yields clinical applications or implications.

Findings: Data analysis revealed that participants tended to surround themselves with persons (i.e., friends, romantic partners) who supported their intention, whether it was to stay in or exit prostitution. Results showed that, particularly for those in off-street prostitution, stigma and the risk of discovery, or “being outed,” especially to one’s children, weighed significantly on a decision to exit. Stigma also caused some participants to distance themselves from significant others, insulating women from normative pressure to exit, effectively increasing harms by prolonging their sex trading.

Conclusion and Implications: Aligning relationship influences and risks with one’s motivation to exit helps ensure proposed interventions meet the intended goal and do not induce further harm. This study supports existing literature showing that both indoor and outdoor sex workers have similar risks but experience them differently. For those working with this population, findings highlight the importance of proposing interventions that take into consideration a deep understanding of who significant others are, how their expectations influence women’s motivation to sell/trade sex, and the women’s own perceptions of risk and stigma. These interventions should be individualized, but should also take into account variations between street-based and indoor sex work (e.g. risk of discovery and stigma may be central factors for indoor sex workers). While pro- and anti-sex work advocates seek to achieve similar goals–empowering women and reducing harms–failing to recognize nuances in sex trade markets increases the risk of missed opportunities to engage with sex workers.