The impact of sex work on women's personal romantic relationships and the mental separation of their work and personal lives : A mixed-methods study
- Bellhouse, Clare, Crebbin, Susan, Fairley, Christopher, Bilardi, Jade
- Authors: Bellhouse, Clare , Crebbin, Susan , Fairley, Christopher , Bilardi, Jade
- Date: 2015
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Plos One Vol. 10, no. 10 (2015), p. e0141575
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- Description: Background Very limited research has been undertaken on sex workers' personal romantic relationships and the impact the nature of their work has on their relationships. This exploratory study aimed to explore the impact sex work has on women's personal romantic relationships and the use of mental separation as a coping mechanism to balance the two aspects of their lives. Fifty-five women working in the indoor sex industry in Melbourne, Australia, were recruited to complete a self-report questionnaire about various aspects of their work, including the impact of sex work on their personal relationships. Questionnaires were completed anonymously and included both closed and open-ended questions. A further six women were interviewed to 'member check' the accuracy of the questionnaire findings. Most women (78%) reported that, overall, sex work affected their personal romantic relationships in predominantly negative ways, mainly relating to issues stemming from lying, trust, guilt and jealousy. A small number of women reported positive impacts from sex work including improved sexual self-esteem and confidence. Just under half of women were in a relationship at the time of the study and, of these, 51% reported their partner was aware of the nature of their work. Seventy-seven percent of single women chose to remain single due to the nature of their work. Many women used mental separation as a coping mechanism to manage the tensions between sex work and their personal relationships. Member checking validated the accuracy of the questionnaire data. This exploratory study identified a number of ways in which sex work impacts negatively on women's personal romantic relationships. The findings of this study support the need for further studies to be undertaken to determine if the findings are reflected in a larger, more representative sample of Australian sex workers and should be considered in the context of any future intervention and support programs aimed at addressing the tensions sex workers experience between their work and personal relationships. Greater public awareness and education programs aimed at addressing the negative stigma associated with the sex industry may go some way towards easing the issues faced by women in their personal relationships.
- Authors: Bellhouse, Clare , Crebbin, Susan , Fairley, Christopher , Bilardi, Jade
- Date: 2015
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Plos One Vol. 10, no. 10 (2015), p. e0141575
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Background Very limited research has been undertaken on sex workers' personal romantic relationships and the impact the nature of their work has on their relationships. This exploratory study aimed to explore the impact sex work has on women's personal romantic relationships and the use of mental separation as a coping mechanism to balance the two aspects of their lives. Fifty-five women working in the indoor sex industry in Melbourne, Australia, were recruited to complete a self-report questionnaire about various aspects of their work, including the impact of sex work on their personal relationships. Questionnaires were completed anonymously and included both closed and open-ended questions. A further six women were interviewed to 'member check' the accuracy of the questionnaire findings. Most women (78%) reported that, overall, sex work affected their personal romantic relationships in predominantly negative ways, mainly relating to issues stemming from lying, trust, guilt and jealousy. A small number of women reported positive impacts from sex work including improved sexual self-esteem and confidence. Just under half of women were in a relationship at the time of the study and, of these, 51% reported their partner was aware of the nature of their work. Seventy-seven percent of single women chose to remain single due to the nature of their work. Many women used mental separation as a coping mechanism to manage the tensions between sex work and their personal relationships. Member checking validated the accuracy of the questionnaire data. This exploratory study identified a number of ways in which sex work impacts negatively on women's personal romantic relationships. The findings of this study support the need for further studies to be undertaken to determine if the findings are reflected in a larger, more representative sample of Australian sex workers and should be considered in the context of any future intervention and support programs aimed at addressing the tensions sex workers experience between their work and personal relationships. Greater public awareness and education programs aimed at addressing the negative stigma associated with the sex industry may go some way towards easing the issues faced by women in their personal relationships.
- Guy, Rebecca, El-Hayek, Carol, Fairley, Christopher, Wand, Handan, Carr, Andrew, McNulty, Anna, Hoy, Jennifer, Bourne, Christopher, McAllister, John, Tee, B. K., Baker, David, Roth, Norman, Stoove, Mark, Chen, Marcus
- Authors: Guy, Rebecca , El-Hayek, Carol , Fairley, Christopher , Wand, Handan , Carr, Andrew , McNulty, Anna , Hoy, Jennifer , Bourne, Christopher , McAllister, John , Tee, B. K. , Baker, David , Roth, Norman , Stoove, Mark , Chen, Marcus
- Date: 2013
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: PLoS ONE Vol. 8, no. 8 Art. No. e71436 (2013 2013), p.
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- Description: Abstract Background Since 2005, Australian clinicians were advised to undertake quarterly syphilis testing for all sexually active HIV-positive men who have sex with men (MSM). We describe differences in syphilis testing frequency among HIV-positive MSM by clinic testing policies since this recommendation. Methods Three general practices, two sexual health clinics and two hospital HIV outpatient clinics provided data on HIV viral load and syphilis testing from 2006–2010. Men having ≥1 viral load test per year were included; >95% were MSM. We used Chi-2 tests to assess changes in syphilis testing frequency over time, and differences by clinic testing policy (opt-out, opt-in and risk-based). Results The proportion of men having HIV viral loads with same-day syphilis tests increased from 37% in 2006 to 63% in 2007 (p<0.01) and 68–69% thereafter. In 2010, same-day syphilis testing was highest in four clinics with opt-out strategies (87%, range:84–91%) compared with one clinic with opt-in (74%, p = 0.121) and two clinics with risk-based strategies (22%, range:20–24%, p<0.01). The proportion of men having ≥3 syphilis tests per year increased from 15% in 2006 to 36% in 2007 (p<0.01) and 36–38% thereafter. In 2010, the proportion of men having ≥3 syphilis tests in a year was highest in clinics with opt-out strategies (48%, range:35–59%), compared with opt-in (39%, p = 0.121) and risk-based strategies (8.4%, range:5.4–12%, p<0.01). Conclusion Over five years the proportion of HIV-positive men undergoing syphilis testing at recommended frequencies more than doubled, and was 5–6 times higher in clinics with opt-out and opt-in strategies compared with risk-based policies.
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