Three-quarters of sex workers started because of financial reasons – research

By Cate McCurry, PA

Around three-quarters of sex workers in Ireland started because of financial reasons, research shows.

The research, carried out by Sex Workers Alliance Ireland (SWAI), also found that migrant sex workers face discrimination and marginalisation when trying to access housing across the country.

It found that while most became sex workers because of money, others became members of Ireland’s sex work work community because of flexibility in the work and some said they were supporting an addiction.

It further found that three-quarters of participants rented private accommodation, while 25 per cent were homeless or lived in hostels.

The research found that of those who are privately renting, 33 per cent utilised housing assistance payments (HAP).

The HAP scheme is a social housing payment made to landlords by local authorities, and tenants pay a contribution to their local authority.

The majority of participants of the SWAI survey had lived in their current housing for one and two years, however, several participants in the study have experienced eviction and some level of homelessness.

Several participants spoke of their experiences of discrimination when seeking or applying for housing.

The majority of participants were migrants, around 87.5 per cent, with many coming from a diverse range of countries including the US, Germany, Pakistan, Romania, Mexico and the UK.

They have been engaged in sex work for various amounts of time, with 25 per cent starting two years ago, 25 per cent working for the last four to five years, 37.5 per cent starting 10 years ago and 12.5 per cent working for 13 years or longer.

Around half of sex workers say they take substances, with some 25 per cent doing so in a social context and around 25 per cent saying they have abstained entirely.

Almi Modjeska, co-ordinator of SWAI, said: “Voices of sex workers in Ireland are constantly omitted and excluded from conversations leading to laws and policies directly affecting them.

“This constant omission guided our approach to this research, which is why this report also includes sex workers’ recommendations for meaningful action that will improve the situation for migrant sex workers in Ireland.”

Linda Kavanagh, spokeswoman for SWAI, said: “Our research includes sex workers in all aspects of the report.

“The questions asked were devised with the input of active sex workers.

“Despite the dominant narrative framing all sex workers as victims of gender-based violence, sex workers are knowledge creators and are best placed to speak about their reality.

“Sex workers conducted the interviews, data analysis and report writing. When we say ‘nothing about us, without us’, we mean it.”

Ms Kavanagh added: “The discussion around sex work in Ireland focuses entirely on violence against sex workers by clients, and their right to exit.

“The structural violence and discrimination they face from the state, the gardai, the housing crisis and by landlords is never mentioned.

“These are all issues that the Government and all of us can address. Instead, all they are offered is the criminalisation of their income through laws that they were never meaningfully consulted on.

“Housing and migration are hot-button topics here. Ireland is one of eight countries that introduced the Nordic client criminalisation model.

“The country is currently enduring a housing crisis, with a severe shortage of housing options.

“The cost-of-living crisis, which has grown from the housing crisis, makes accessing decent work difficult. We know that more people are turning to sex work in Ireland to make ends meet.

“Ireland criminalises clients and has broad and harsh brothel-keeping laws that prevent sex workers from working together for safety.

“These laws make sex work less safe and drive sex workers away from paths to justice and services that can help them.”

The organisation repeated its call for the decriminalisation of sex work and the abolition of brothel-keeping laws.

They say criminalising brothel keeping and the organisation of sex work forces sex workers to operate in isolation, increasing their risk of violence and exploitation.

They also said current legislation makes it “very difficult” for sex workers to secure stable housing, as landlords can be prosecuted for knowingly renting to them.

This contributes to housing insecurity, and makes sex workers more vulnerable to exploitation and homelessness.

The fear of eviction adds to the instability and stress experienced by sex workers, they added.