Presented by Josephine MacIntosh XV World Congress of Sexology Montreal Quebec, July 2005

1. Does Gender Matter? Males & Females in the Sex Trade Presented by Josephine MacIntosh XV World Congress of Sexology Montreal Quebec, July 2005 Prepared By: Josephine MacIntosh, Rachel Phillips, Murray Anderson & Cecilia Benoit Department of Sociology - University of Victoria Research funded by: Sara Spencer Foundation Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research Prostitutes Empowerment Education and Resource Society

2. Objectives • Explore gender differences & similarities in a non-random sample of sex industry workers situated in Victoria, BC, Canada • Explore whether male privilege commonin most jobs holds true for male STWs • e.g., higher earnings, more occupational control, lower morbidity • To explore the effects of gender on • Worker experiences University of Victoria, BC, Canada

3. Methods and Data Sample Size for this Report: 113 respondents located in the Victoria Region Work Status: All active in STW Gender: 90 females, 23 males Work Location: majority of respondents had worked in a variety of venues, including both indoor and outdoor sex work. • Project initiated by community partner: Prostitutes Empowerment Education and Resource Society (PEERS) • Community-academic collaboration; employed experiential research assistants • Diverse research tool including closed ended (n=201) and open-ended (n=79) questions on a range of topics. • Full Report: Benoit and Millar (2001) Dispelling Myths and Understanding Realities University of Victoria, BC, Canada

4. Results • Demographic similarities by gender • Age (mean = 33 yrs; range 19 – 61 yrs ) • Ethnicity (White) • Education (Completed grade 10) • Length of time living in the city (10 yrs) • Age turned first trick (21 yrs) • A few reported forced involvement • None defined as part of global trafficking • Similar family backgrounds University of Victoria, BC, Canada

5. Results • Differences in sexual identity by gender • Overall, 46% self-identified as sexual minorities • However, male STWs much more likely to self-identify as a belonging to a sexual minority F (1, 113) = 13.29, p < .001 University of Victoria, BC, Canada

6. Results • Reasons for Entering the Sex Trade • Economic duress: Males 4%; Females 39% • Bills, kids to feed, no job, ineligible for welfare “No money, no means, no other choice” Female, 42, street • Enticement: Males 61%; Females 26% • Easy money, opportunity,curiosity “Just being curious, opportunities, people offering me opportunities” Male, 29, home University of Victoria, BC, Canada

7. Results • Frequency of STW • Vast majority report STW as main job • Males more home-based, females more street & agency • Annual Income from STW • Mean = $22,900 (just above f/t minimum wage) • Males = $16,800; Females = $24,600 less control over $ • Similar levels of income, near minimum wage • Annual Income from Other Work • Mean = $4,600 • Males = $9,000; Females = $3,500 • Males report more non-sex trade income University of Victoria, BC, Canada

8. Results • Occupational Control • Females report less control over money • Genders report similar levels of control over (p > .05) • Career in the long term • Having sex with more than one John at one time • Number of clients per shift • Place where sex trade activities are performed • Type of sexual activities performed • Condom use • Hours worked and time off • Both genders reported “a lot” or “full” control University of Victoria, BC, Canada

9. Results • Both genders report • Control over their own sex trade activities • Sometimes with a partner in the trade • Control increases with experience • Consistent condom use for penetrative sex • High rates of injuries at work • 48% of males and 53% of females had sought treatment for injuries incurred in the sex trade • Females report more gonorrhea & chlamydia University of Victoria, BC, Canada

10. Results χ2 (6) = 15.14, p < .05 University of Victoria, BC, Canada

11. Conclusions • Male STWs report • Similar demographics, backgrounds & experiences • Similar earnings and occupational control • Male privilege does not appear to function • More paid work outside of the sex industry • Less driven by economic need • More job opportunities = male privilege • Different reasons for entry • Different attractions to the trade • Many males appear to explore the sex trade • Most women seem to resort to it University of Victoria, BC, Canada

12. Ongoing Research • Interactive Service Workers Occupational Health and Safety and Access to Health Services Study: Victoria, BC and Sacramento, CA. • Principle Investigator: Cecilia Benoit, University of Victoria • A longitudinal comparative model is used to overcome the limitations of cross-sectional data. This new study examines occupational experiences, health and health care access across sex work populations and between sex work populations and other lower-income service workers. University of Victoria, BC, Canada

13. Contact Information Josephine MacIntosh University of Victoria E-mail: jmm@uvic.ca University of Victoria, BC, Canada

14. Acknowledgements • Foremost, we would like to thank the sex workers who participated in the interviews that inform this report. Without their voices, this project would not have been possible • In addition, a special thanks goes to our experiential research assistants who devoted not only their time and energy to the project, but also a dedication to extend and deepen our understanding of sex workers’ lives University of Victoria, BC, Canada

15. Acknowledgements • We also thank the following organizations: • Sandy Merriman House • The Needle Exchange • AIDS Vancouver Island • BC Health Research Foundation • Capital Health Region • BC Centre of Excellence on Women’s Health • University of Victoria • PEERS University of Victoria, BC, Canada