Join Dr. Cheryl Radeloff and Dr. Amanda Morgan for this presentation and discussion about the state of the healthcare needs of sex workers in the United States. “Sex work” is an umbrella term for sexual or other intimate or erotic labor provided by a person in exchange for money, substances, or other resources. Other terms include “prostitution,” “transactional sex,” “survival sex,” or “exchange sex.” Sex workers are a diverse group of people who often experience multiple disadvantages, including mental ill health and problematic substance use. Mainstream healthcare services are generally not configured to facilitate engagement with sex workers and services are needed that are accessible to this population. Direct sex work is not legal in all but one state, but it occurs in all areas of the United States. Healthcare providers often care for these patients without knowing it because of the reluctance to report illegal activity and concern about perceived healthcare provider bias. The stereotype of the sex worker soliciting sex on a street corner (“outdoor” sex work) may not be typical today. A sex worker may solicit sex through a website that may or may not be oriented specifically to this service (“indoor” sex work). They may be students or be working other jobs at the same time and be virtually indistinguishable from other patients. They may also not engage in direct sex work at all. In fact, many of today’s sex workers engage in digital or virtual sexual labor, including webcam (“cam”) work and phone sex. This type of sex work also often exists in a legal gray area or is fully legal (as is the case with adult films). Learn more about Drop In Learning Sessions (DIALS).
Learning Objectives
1. Identify the current state of sex work in the US.
2. List at least three priority health concerns for sex workers.
3. Identify strategies for meeting unmet health care needs for sex workers.
4. Discuss client-led counseling and education approaches for people involved in sex work.
Join Dr. Cheryl Radeloff and Dr. Amanda Morgan for this presentation and discussion about the state of the healthcare needs of sex workers in the United States. “Sex work” is an umbrella term for sexual or other intimate or erotic labor provided by a person in exchange for money, substances, or other resources. Other terms include “prostitution,” “transactional sex,” “survival sex,” or “exchange sex.” Sex workers are a diverse group of people who often experience multiple disadvantages, including mental ill health and problematic substance use. Mainstream healthcare services are generally not configured to facilitate engagement with sex workers and services are needed that are accessible to this population. Direct sex work is not legal in all but one state, but it occurs in all areas of the United States. Healthcare providers often care for these patients without knowing it because of the reluctance to report illegal activity and concern about perceived healthcare provider bias. The stereotype of the sex worker soliciting sex on a street corner (“outdoor” sex work) may not be typical today. A sex worker may solicit sex through a website that may or may not be oriented specifically to this service (“indoor” sex work). They may be students or be working other jobs at the same time and be virtually indistinguishable from other patients. They may also not engage in direct sex work at all. In fact, many of today’s sex workers engage in digital or virtual sexual labor, including webcam (“cam”) work and phone sex. This type of sex work also often exists in a legal gray area or is fully legal (as is the case with adult films). Learn more about Drop In Learning Sessions (DIALS).
Learning Objectives
1. Identify the current state of sex work in the US.
2. List at least three priority health concerns for sex workers.
3. Identify strategies for meeting unmet health care needs for sex workers.
4. Discuss client-led counseling and education approaches for people involved in sex work.
