The job satisfaction of female sex workers working in licensed brothels

in Australia.

J Bilardi1, A Miller 2, M Temple-Smith3, J Hocking3, L Keogh3, R Cummings 2M Chen1,2, C Bradshaw2,4, C Fairley1,2

1Sexual Health Unit, Melbourne School of Population Health, University of Melbourne 2 Melbourne Sexual Health Centre, Alfred Health 3 Centre for Women’s Health, Gender & Society, Melbourne School of Population Health,

University of Melbourne 4 Department of Epidemiology & Preventative Medicine, Monash University

• Previous studies have examined sex workers’ attitudes and motivations for sex work but not their levels of job satisfaction compared with other occupations.1-7

Background

1. Pyett P, Haste B, Snow JD. Who works in the sex industry? A profile of female prostitutes in Victoria. Aust N Z J PublicHealth.1996;20(4):431-433.2. Groves J, Newtown D, Chen M, Hocking J, Bradshaw C, Fairley C. Sex workers working within a legalised industry: their side of thestory. Sex Transm Infect. 2008;84:393-394 3. Shu-ling H, Bedford O. Juveniles' motivations for remaining in prostitution. Psychol Women Q. 2004;28(2):136-46.4. Chudakov B, Ilan K, Belmaker RH, Cwikel J. The motivation and mental health of sex workers. J Sex Marital Ther. 2002;28(4):305315.5. Vanwesenbeeck I. Another decade of social scientific work on sex work: A review of research 1990-2000. Annu Rev Sex Res.2001;12:242.6. Lantz S. Students working in the Melbourne sex industry: Education, human capital and the changing patterns of the youth

labourmarket. Journal of Youth Studies. 2005;8(4):385-401.7. Woodward C, Fisher J, Najam J, Dunne M. Selling sex in Queensland: a study of prostitution in Queensland. Brisbane: ProstitutionLicensing Authority; 2004.

Aims

• To examine the characteristics and job satisfaction of a sample of female sex workers working in licensed brothels in Victoria

• Job satisfaction levels and standards of living were compared with Australian women

Methods

• Cross sectional survey

• Female sex workers working in licensed brothels attending MSHC for monthly STI screen

• July-August 2009

• Eligibility – reasonable command English

• 35-item questionnaire: Largely based on HILDA survey - NPQ & SCQ - Demographic characteristics

- Job satisfaction & employment- Personal & household finances

- Working conditions of sex workers- Relationship questions- Illicit drug use- “Most likely alternative job”

• Completed questionnaires → locked box in waiting room

Methods

Methods

• HILDA Survey data used to provide comparative data on Australian women (AW)

• HILDA data restricted to:- Employed females- Aged 18-64 years- State of Victoria

• Sex workers (SW) ‘Most likely alternative job” - classified by ANZSCO major occupation groups

Main outcome measures

Compared

Median job satisfaction scores (JSS) of sex workers on various job aspects

Vs

Median JSS of Australian women (n=943) working in sex workers

‘Most likely alternative job’ (MLAJ)

Outcome measures

Compared

Sex workers standards of living

Vs

Australian women's standards of living

Results

• Participation rate 79% (85/112)

• When compared to Australian women our sample of sex workers were more likely to be:

- <40 yrs (p<0.03)- Secondary education level or ↓ (p=0.01)- Born outside Australia (p=0.05)

Table 1: Demographic and employment characteristics of participants (n=85)

Number or %

Median age 30 [19-55]Born in Aust/NZ 61%Studying toward qualification 37%Median years in sex work 3 [0.1-18]Median no. hrs worked per week 25 [4-60]Worked weekends (sex work) 71%Annual leave <12months 54%Married or living with someone 17%Sex work affects romantic relationship/s 80%

Why sex work?

• Main reasons for entering sex work:- Flexible hours (44%)- Need money (69%)- Have particular goal (76%)

• Main concerns about sex work:- Risk of STIs (65%)- Safety (65%)

Table 2: Sex workers levels of satisfaction with various work aspects

Median [range]

Total pay 7 [3-10]Job security 7 [0-10]Work itself 6 [0-10]Hours worked 8 [1-10]Flexibility work/life 8 [2-10]Overall job satisfaction 7 [0-10]

1 = totally dissatisfied, 10 = totally satisfied

Table 3: Occupations sex workers identified as their ‘MLAJ’ if not doing sex work

N (%)

Managers i.e. diary cattle farmer, retails and service manager, conference & event organiser

5 (7)

Professionals i.e. accountant, interior designer 25 (36)Technicians & trade workers i.e. vet nurse 2 (3)Community & personal service worker i.e. aged or disability carer, bar attendant, fitness instructor

21 (30)

Clerical & admin workers i.e. legal secretary 10 (14)Sales workers i.e. sales assistant, sales support 4 (6)Machinery operators & drivers 0 (0)Laborers i.e. factory process worker 1 (4)

Table 4: Sex workers levels of satisfaction with various work aspects

Most likely alternative job

Sex work worseN (%, 95% CI)

Sex work sameN (%, 95% CI)

Sex work betterN (%, 95% CI)

Total pay 25 (37, 26-49) 14 (21, 12-33) 29 (43, 31-55)

Job security 40 (59, 46-70) 10 (15, 8-26) 18 (26, 17-39)

Work itself 42 (62, 49-73) 13 (19, 11-31) 13 (19, 11-31)

Hours worked 26 (38, 27-51) 8 (12, 6-22) 34 (50, 38-62)

Flexibility work/life 23 (34, 23-46) 13 (19, 11-31) 32 (47, 35-60)

Overall job satisfn 37 (54, 41-66) 15 (22, 13-34) 17 (25, 15-37)

Why leave sex work?

• Main reasons for leaving sex work:- Obtain better job/make a change/start new

business (70%)- Retire (56%)- Travel (39%)

• 88% have not left sex work because of money • 42% reported <50% chance leave SW ≤ 12m• Median retirement age from SW = 50 yrs

Table 5: Standards of living of sex workers comparedto Australian women

SW’s (%) AW (%) P-value

Unable pay utility bill <12m 25 13 0.008

Unable pay mortgage/rent on time 36 7 <0.000

Pawned or sold something 15 3 <0.000

Went without meals 11 3 0.002

Asked $ help family/friends 37 15 <0.000

Asked for welfare assistance 15 2 <0.000

Table 6: Sex workers levels of satisfaction withvarious life areas compared to Australian women

‘Satisfied’ or ‘completely satisfied’ SW (%) AW (%) P-value

Home in which they live 58 89 <0.000Employment conditions 36 87 <0.000Financial situation 49 71 <0.000How safe they feel 61 94 <0.000Their local community 39 73 <0.000Their health 61 88 <0.000Neighborhood in which they live 72 92 <0.000Overall life satisfaction 76 95 <0.000

• Financial gain primary reason women do sex work.

• Sex work rated better for total pay, hours worked and flexibility and worse for job security, the work itself and overall satisfaction

Discussion

• Sig. minority prefer sex work to other work they would be likely to do

• Sex workers more financially stressed than the average Australian woman. Unlikely they will move into other work unless it is more financially rewarding than sex work

Discussion

• Only study to look at satisfaction of SW’s compared with a nationally representative sample of AW in other jobs a SW could reasonably get

• Included sample of SW’s from licensed brothels where occupational health & safety rules reinforced – responses of SW’s likely to reflect issues related to work itself rather than issues such as personal safety etc

Strengths

Limitations

• Relatively small study that did not allow for comparisons between sex workers

• Generalisability of results limited to English speaking SW’s working in licensed brothels

• Unable to provide comparison between SW’s and AW for all survey questions as some Q’s not derived from HILDA survey

• We would like to thank the participating women for sharing their experiences and opinions.

•This presentation uses unit record data from the HILDA Survey. The HILDA project was initiated and is funded by the Australian Government Department of Families, Housing and Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA) and is managed by the Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research (Melbourne Institute). The findings and views reported in this presentation, however, are those of the authors and should not be attributed to either FaHCSIA or the Melbourne Institute

Acknowledgements