Would you think about doing sex for money? Structure and agency in deciding to sell sex in Canada

Cecilia Benoit, Nadia Ouellet, Mikael Jansson, Samantha Magnus and Michaela Smith
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Cecilia Benoit: University of Victoria, Canada
Nadia Ouellet: University of Victoria, Canada
Mikael Jansson: University of Victoria, Canada
Samantha Magnus: University of Victoria, Canada
Michaela Smith: University of Victoria, Canada

Work, Employment & Society, 2017, vol. 31, issue 5, 731-747

Abstract: Entry into sex work is not typically considered as an occupational choice comparable to entry into other jobs. In the sex work literature, initiation is often thought to occur through predisposing factors deep in the structure of society, including childhood disadvantage, abuse and neglect. Some studies have also identified need for money as the main reason for entry, while others document entry due to a desire for more disposable income. Few studies have focused on agency-level factors guiding entry, including seeing sex work as a viable career or professional choice. Analysis of data from interviews with a purposive multi-gender sample ( N = 218) reveals the multiple reasons for entry into sex work in Canada. Participants identified three overlapping structural and agentic reasons for entry: critical life events; desire or need for money; and personal appeal of the work. These findings are discussed in light of the occupational choice and sex work literatures.

Keywords: agency; occupational choice; sex work; sex workers; structure (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (6)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:woemps:v:31:y:2017:i:5:p:731-747

DOI: 10.1177/0950017016679331

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