| dc.description.abstract | Sex work can present multiple risks and challenges, potentially significantly impacting
wellbeing of individuals working in this industry. Sex work includes indoor (e.g., brothels,
escort, online work) and street work. Different types of working are associated with different
degrees of exposure to risk and different types of risk. In addition, sex work is heavily
stigmatised and different types of sex work can be more stigmatised depending on level of
client interaction and other marginalised identities of workers. As a result, sex workers are
often excluded from professional services. Much past research has focused on street sex work,
particularly research exploring risks and tailoring appropriate support. Qualitative research has
suggested among women street sex workers, desire to exit is high. However, indoor workers
have reported greater job enjoyment relative to outdoor workers, and have less exposure to
police and violence.
Leaving sex work has been argued to be a complex process with multiple factors that
can make it challenging to exit. Previous research exploring leaving sex work has often been
qualitative to capture lived experiences of individuals; this is recommended in sex work
research. Drawing upon qualitative literature, a meta-ethnography was used to explore how
individuals who either are working or have worked across any sector of sex work experience
the leaving process, and whether certain factors helped or hindered this journey. Four themes
were identified: Envisaging a different future, developing an exit plan, and identity
transformation were apparent stages of the leaving process, each with different facilitators and
barriers within them, with feeling othered as a significant barrier to leaving throughout the
journey. Non-judgemental multi-disciplinary professional support across the leaving process is
recommended. Most included studies explored street-based sex work. It was highlighted further
research exploring experiences of individuals in indoor work would be beneficial to further
understand unique challenges for different sectors and demographics of sex work and inform
tailoring of more individualised support.
There has been significant growth in the online sex work sector. This sector creates
potential new opportunities and challenges for amateur and experienced workers. Despite its
relative ubiquity, there has been little robust research into experiences of individuals creating
online adult content, particularly impact on their wellbeing. Therefore, an explorative study
drew upon methodological principles of grounded theory to explore experiences of identity and
self-concept navigation when selling adult content on OnlyFans, investigating impacts on
wellbeing. Fifteen UK-based women content creators were interviewed, and a theoretical
model was developed. The wide array of different experiences, positives, negatives, and
challenges which impacted their overall self-concept was highlighted. This study emphasises
importance of recognising complex, dynamic, and diverse processes individuals go through in
managing multiple demands of this relatively new sector and attempting to navigate selfconcept
and establish an identity; it presents unique benefits and challenges when compared to
other sectors of sex work. It is important mental health professionals are aware of distinct
benefits and challenges on self-esteem and wellbeing that OnlyFans presents when supporting
individuals, and are amenable to the heterogeneity of this population, attempting to promote
alternative narratives to individuals working in this rapidly-evolving sector. | en |
