Sex Work - Sexual Assault is Not Part of the Job.
Misinformation and untruths surrounding the sex trade industry continue to be embedded in our society. These myths fuel the violence and stigma that sex workers face on a routine basis.
One of the most harmful (if you could even categorize them) of these myths is that sex workers are somehow ‘asking for it’ or that sexual assault is just part of the job.
The reality is that no one ever, ever, deserves to be sexually assaulted. Whether there is payment or not, regardless of why sex workers are involved in the trade, any sex act performed without consent is a form of violence.
In 2010 in Nova Scotia, 682 victims of sexual violence reported their assaults to law enforcement but it is estimated that 9 out of 10 assaults were not reported. These stats do not reflect the reporting of sex workers, but in terms of the sex trade, it is estimated that reporting is much, much lower. Because sex work is criminalized, many of those working in the trade are intimidated by the police and will not communicate violent attacks against them for fear of arrest or ‘not being taken seriously’. These feelings os mistrust are not only towards law enforcement who are working within a set of draconic prostitution laws, but by those who continue to treat sex workers as society’s punching bag.
Next month, May, is the Sexual Assault Awareness Month where community stakeholders come together to raise awareness on sexual assaults in our community and how we can work together to eradicate it.
This year in Nova Scotia, Sexual Assault Awareness Month activities will involve organizations that work directly with sex trade workers and I will be speaking to the issue of sexual violence against sex trade workers at the launch at Province House, on May 1st at 9am. This will mark one of the first times (if ever) that issues surrounding the sex trade will be part of the conversation in the same building that houses our legislature, and along side law enforcement, community organizations, and all levels of government. This is crucial not because we will be giving a speech next to Ministers in a fancy red room, but because sex workers need to be a part of the conversation that impacts them and myths dispelled… in all forums.
Entering into dialogue with new partners and dispelling myths may not impact sexual assault rates against sex workers in the short or medium term, but if we are to address the violence that sex workers face in all our communities, the discussion … and inclusion of all groups… must be paramount.
