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Income, Employment & Education: Sex Trade
Poverty, addiction, lack of education and abuse are some of the causes leading people, male and female, into the sex trade and homelessness. These root causes promote the marginalization of sex trade workers and lead to violence and oppression. Often, the issue of sex trade workers is moralized and the victims are re-victimized. Prostitution is viewed as a lifestyle choice, rather than a system of violence committed against women and youth.

Most women and youth that enter prostitution are survivors of sexual abuse such as assault or incest. They are emotionally and financially exploitable and are especially vulnerable to coercion and recruitment into survival sex; exchanging sex for food, shelter, gifts, money or drugs. The exploitation and violence inherent in prostitution often results in severe physical, emotional and psychological trauma with long-term effects.

In order to cope with past or current sexual violence in their lives, many prostitute...d women and youth use drugs or alcohol. Those all ready addicted may by coerced into prostitution by pimps and johns in exchange for drugs. In time some may trade sex for drugs on their own to satisfy their addiction. Many women are incarcerated on prostitution-related charges, including charges for drug possession or usage. Upon release many of these women do not have a stable place of their own or the supports needed to achieve self-sufficiency, and often prostituted again.

Women and youth are forced into a system of sexual slavery for the commercial benefit of others. Effective policing involves protecting individuals and communities by focusing on the arrest of pimps, johns and organized networks that profit from trafficking women and children. Effective strategies that address the lucrative business of trafficking and profiteering are required.

AUTHOR: Power, Asetha (2008) Homeless Hub. [Show More][Show Less]


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A Canadian Homelessness Research Network (CHRN) initiative. The CHRN has received financial support from the Government of Canada’s Homelessness Partnering Strategy and the Social Science and Humanities Research Council of Canada

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