Sex+Work+in+UK,+Mexican+American+Border+and+South+Africa

Sex Work: The UK, The US-Mexican Border and in South Africa
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What is Sex Work?
The term sex worker refers to those engaged in prostitution and is the preferred term that is used throughout the literature. However, as of today, the sex industry has grown and diversified (Hardy et al., 2010). It is more varied than just prostitution, which is limited to the act of sex, but various forms of sexual activities.The term sex work is free of complicated derogatory and sexist connotations which are more commonly associated with prostitution. In sex work, money is exchanged for the provision of sexual services that may be direct or indirect (Hardy et al., 2010).

Some examples of INDIRECT sex work include:

** POLE DANCERS **

**PHONE SEX OPERATORS** //The internet has open up avenues to sell sex work all over the globe (Hardy et al., 2010)//
 * VIRTUAL SEX SERVICES**

DIRECT sex work usually involved the exchange of sex for a fee in which genital contact in common. Some examples are:

** INDOOR AND OUTDOOR PROSTITUTION **

** PROFESSIONAL DOMINATRIX **

Ethnocentrism


The majority of the world look at sex workers from an ethnocentric viewpoint. This means that they see their world as being the only world, in which sex workers are marginalized. The majority of the world discriminates against sex workers without getting questioned. Sex workers are often referred to as sluts and whores. (Bennett, 2004). This has been perpetuated by the media who stigmatizes sex workers by focusing on criminalized aspects of prostitution and the prevalence of STIs and drugs (Hardy et al., 2010).

**Stage of Denial**
According to Bennett & Bennett (2004) the majority of the world is stuck in the denial stage in which they are ignorant about the experiences sex workers have. Sex work has been the subject of many heated debates (Hardy et al., 2010). Radical feminists see any form of sex work, in which a man objectifies a woman in order to receive pleasure, as a violent act (Hardy et al., 2010). While liberal feminists understand that some men and women chose to sell sex given their circumstances and rather do it than be in a subordinate position. They recognize that power is not one-dimensional and that not all sex workers are women (Hardy et al., 2010)..

Psychology of Worldview
There are several paradigms and cultural perspectives that can be used when describing a sex worker who continues to work in the sexual service industry. The following looks at sex work through the lens of Koltko-Rivera (2004).

Shift from Volition to Determinism

 * The privileged might believe that people who work in sexual services are operating under their own free will and later learn that not all sex workers have the resources to leave.

Determinism

 * The oppressed sex worker who hates giving oral sex continues to give oral sex because they feel that if they do not, they will lose the business to another sex work.

Environmental Determinism
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 * The oppressed sex worker believes that they do not have the resources to leave the industry.

**Locus of Control**

 * Someone's locus of control is also a crucial component to an individual staying in sex work.

**External Locus of Control**

 * Sex works with an external locus of control feel like they are powerless in their own life and therefore cannot enact ay real change.

**Internal Locus of Control**

 * Sex worker's who have an internal locus of control believe that they can control their own life. For example, many sex workers who work via the internet believe that they are in control of their own career.

Cross Cultural Sex work
From a global perspective, sex work is now more specialized, diversified and sophisticated (Hausbeck & Brent, 2002). Sex work is no longer confined by national borders, it has developed into new forms. As economies become more demanding, sex workers, particularly impoverished women with limited skills, who need to make money to survive, are becoming more prevalent (Hausbeck & Brent, 2002).

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Appendix

 * 1) **Prostitute:** a person who, on at least one occasion and whether or not compelled to do so, offers or provides sexual services to another person in return for payment or payment to themselves or another person (Douse et al., 2011, pp. 20).
 * 2) **Soliciting:** includes any tempting or alluring of prospective customers, through words, winks, glances, gestures, smiles or provocative movements; it also includes mere lingering either on foot or in a vehicle where you have no intention to move on. Likewise the definition can include someone sitting in a window if they are clearly soliciting, for instance wearing revealing clothing, sitting under a red light, in an area where prostitutes are sought (red light area or ‘beat’) (Douse et al., 2011, pp. 13)
 * 3) ** Loitering: ** lingering with no intention to move on, either by foot or in a vehicle (Douse et al., 2011, pp. 13).
 * 4) ** Brothel: **Any premises (apartment, home, massage parlor) may be classified as a brothel if they are used by more than one man or woman for the purposes of prostitution, whether on the same day or different (Douse et al., 2011, pp.17).
 * 5) **Pimping:** Causing or inciting and controlling prostitution for gain (Douse et al., 2011, pp. 20).
 * 6) **Gain:** any financial advantage, including the discharge of an obligation to pay or the provision of goods or services (including sexual services) gratuitously or at a discount; or the good will of any person which is, or appears likely in time, to bring financial advantage (Douse et al., 2011, pp. 20).