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The job satisfaction of female sex workers working in licensed brothels in Australia.

The job satisfaction of female sex workers working in licensed brothels in Australia. J Bilardi 1, A Miller 2 , M Temple-Smith 3 , J Hocking 3 , L Keogh 3 , R Cummings 2 M Chen 1,2 , C Bradshaw 2,4 , C Fairley 1,2

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The job satisfaction of female sex workers working in licensed brothels in Australia.

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  1. The job satisfaction of female sex workers working in licensed brothels in Australia. J Bilardi1, A Miller 2, M Temple-Smith3, J Hocking3, L Keogh3, R Cummings 2 M Chen1,2,C Bradshaw2,4, C Fairley1,2 1Sexual Health Unit, Melbourne School of Population Health, University of Melbourne 2 Melbourne Sexual Health Centre, Alfred Health 3 Centre for Women’s Health, Gender & Society, Melbourne School of Population Health, University of Melbourne 4 Department of Epidemiology & Preventative Medicine, Monash University

  2. Background 1. Pyett P, Haste B, Snow JD. Who works in the sex industry? A profile of female prostitutes in Victoria. Aust N Z J Public Health.1996;20(4):431-433. 2. Groves J, Newtown D, Chen M, Hocking J, Bradshaw C, Fairley C. Sex workers working within a legalised industry: their side of the story. Sex Transm Infect. 2008;84:393-394 3. Shu-ling H, Bedford O. Juveniles' motivations for remaining in prostitution. Psychol Women Q. 2004;28(2):136-46. 4. Chudakov B, Ilan K, Belmaker RH, Cwikel J. The motivation and mental health of sex workers. J Sex Marital Ther. 2002;28(4):305 315. 5. Vanwesenbeeck I. Another decade of social scientific work on sex work: A review of research 1990-2000. Annu Rev Sex Res. 2001;12:242. 6. Lantz S. Students working in the Melbourne sex industry: Education, human capital and the changing patterns of the youth labour market. Journal of Youth Studies. 2005;8(4):385-401. 7. Woodward C, Fisher J, Najam J, Dunne M. Selling sex in Queensland: a study of prostitution in Queensland. Brisbane: Prostitution Licensing Authority; 2004. • Previous studies have examined sex workers’ attitudes and motivations for sex work but not their levels of job satisfaction compared with other occupations.1-7

  3. Aims • To examine the characteristics and job satisfaction of a sample of female sex workers working in licensed brothels in Victoria • Job satisfaction levels and standards of living were compared with Australian women

  4. Methods • Cross sectional survey • Female sex workers working in licensed brothels attending MSHC for monthly STI screen • July-August 2009 • Eligibility – reasonable command English

  5. Methods • 35-item questionnaire: Largely based on HILDA survey - NPQ & SCQ - Demographic characteristics - Job satisfaction & employment - Personal & household finances - Working conditions of sex workers - Relationship questions - Illicit drug use - “Most likely alternative job” • Completed questionnaires → locked box in waiting room

  6. Methods • HILDA Survey data used to provide comparative data on Australian women (AW) • HILDA data restricted to: - Employed females - Aged 18-64 years - State of Victoria • Sex workers (SW) ‘Most likely alternative job” - classified by ANZSCO major occupation groups

  7. Main outcome measures Compared Median job satisfaction scores (JSS) of sex workers on various job aspects Vs Median JSS of Australian women (n=943) working in sex workers ‘Most likely alternative job’ (MLAJ)

  8. Outcome measures Compared Sex workers standards of living Vs Australian women's standards of living

  9. Results • Participation rate 79% (85/112) • When compared to Australian women our sample of sex workers were more likely to be: - <40 yrs (p<0.03) - Secondary education level or ↓ (p=0.01) - Born outside Australia (p=0.05)

  10. Table 1: Demographic and employment characteristics of participants (n=85)

  11. Why sex work? • Main reasons for entering sex work: - Flexible hours (44%) - Need money (69%) - Have particular goal (76%) • Main concerns about sex work: - Risk of STIs (65%) - Safety (65%)

  12. Table 2: Sex workers levels of satisfaction with various work aspects 1 = totally dissatisfied, 10 = totally satisfied

  13. Table 3: Occupations sex workers identified as their ‘MLAJ’ if not doing sex work

  14. Table 4: Sex workers levels of satisfaction with various work aspects

  15. Why leave sex work? • Main reasons for leaving sex work: - Obtain better job/make a change/start new business (70%) - Retire (56%) - Travel (39%) • 88% have not left sex work because of money • 42% reported <50% chance leave SW ≤ 12m • Median retirement age from SW = 50 yrs

  16. Table 5: Standards of living of sex workers compared to Australian women

  17. Table 6: Sex workers levels of satisfaction with various life areas compared to Australian women

  18. Discussion • Financial gain primary reason women do sex work. • Sex work rated better for total pay, hours worked and flexibility and worse for job security, the work itself and overall satisfaction

  19. Discussion • Sig. minority prefer sex work to other work they would be likely to do • Sex workers more financially stressed than the average Australian woman. Unlikely they will move into other work unless it is more financially rewarding than sex work

  20. Strengths • Only study to look at satisfaction of SW’s compared with a nationally representative sample of AW in other jobs a SW could reasonably get • Included sample of SW’s from licensed brothels where occupational health & safety rules reinforced – responses of SW’s likely to reflect issues related to work itself rather than issues such as personal safety etc

  21. Limitations • Relatively small study that did not allow for comparisons between sex workers • Generalisability of results limited to English speaking SW’s working in licensed brothels • Unable to provide comparison between SW’s and AW for all survey questions as some Q’s not derived from HILDA survey

  22. We would like to thank the participating women for sharing their experiences and opinions. This presentation uses unit record data from the HILDA Survey. The HILDA project was initiated and is funded by the Australian Government Department of Families, Housing and Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA) and is managed by the Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research (Melbourne Institute). The findings and views reported in this presentation, however, are those of the authors and should not be attributed to either FaHCSIA or the Melbourne Institute Acknowledgements

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