One of the study’s key findings is that it is the social and legal environment surrounding sex work—not the work itself—that makes these women vulnerable to abuse.
In Canada, Bill C-36, passed in 2014, criminalized the purchase of sexual services and broadened the definition of pimping, leading to tangible and harmful effects for sex workers themselves.
One woman in the study expressed frustration that she couldn’t hire an assistant—even for administrative tasks such as managing her schedule—because the law would classify that person as a “third party” receiving a material benefit from sex work.
Furthermore, by criminalizing the work environment rather than protecting workers, Canada’s laws exacerbate the risks to sex workers, despite claiming to do the opposite, said Gobeil.
“These constraints have the effect of preventing sex workers from accessing support services,” she said. “Many are reluctant to contact the police when problems arise, fearing judgment, revictimization and accusations of illegal activity.”
Fear of exposure also makes them vulnerable. Nine of the 13 participants in the study reported concealing their sex work from friends and family. Some do so because they fear being blackmailed by ex-partners, but the secrecy they maintain for protection can also be used as a tool of control.
The violence these women experienced was primarily psychological, including degrading comments, threats and attempts to control them—all rooted in the stigma attached to their line of work.
“Sexual assault also occurs, although less frequently,” said Gobeil. “The most commonly reported form was non-compliance with condom use, or clients using pressure or manipulation to avoid wearing a condom, or removing it without the woman’s consent.”
Risk management experts
“This project’s main original contribution was the detailed documentation of the protective strategies these women have independently developed to use before, during and after sexual encounters,” said Ouellet.
The women use pricing as an initial way to filter clients. By charging high rates for their services, they discourage risky clients and attract a more stable customer base.
According to Ouellet, higher prices “also tend to discourage special requests for services such as no condom use, as clients fear an extra charge.”
The women also carefully managed their online presence, including photos, descriptions and the overall impression conveyed, to appeal to their desired clientele. They scrutinized initial conversations with potential clients, paying attention to the language used, the clarity of requests and the respect shown.
Some even required the client’s full name, which they checked on social media, or requested references and a deposit before confirming the appointment.
During sexual encounters, the women tended to use hotels because they offer a safer, semi-public setting. They usually insisted on payment upfront, limited their substance use in order to stay alert, and required the client to wear a condom, which is standard practice among sex workers.
After sexual encounters, the women relied on informal databases shared by sex workers to flag problematic clients and share warnings.
“They band together because the system doesn’t fully protect them,” Ouellet noted. Though precarious and unrecognized, this network remains one of their main defences against victimization, she added.
Listening to sex workers
Both Gobeil and Ouellet advocate policies grounded in the lived realities of sex workers. This means recognizing the active role the women play in managing risk and providing better access to appropriate health and support services.
More broadly, the researchers believe it’s time to think about decriminalizing sex work.
In their view, the current definition of “third party” in Bill-36 should be revamped to ensure that not all forms of assistance are automatically equated with pimping. This would allow sex workers to obtain the support they need in order to organize and safely carry out their work, they said.
Gobeil and Ouellet believe lawmakers should start by listening to the people who are directly concerned: sex workers themselves.
“Excluding these women from the debate means missing out on expertise that no study can fully replace,” said Ouellet. “We need to decriminalize sex work and involve sex workers in developing the policies that affect them.”
