Research on the regulation of sex work in Canada

[carogator28]

Someone on another board posted a link to a very interesting research project exploring the regulation of the escort agencies, strip clubs and body rub parlours through Criminal Code and municipal by-law in thirteen municipalities across Canada.

The research project is undertaken by Dr. Mary Whowell from the School of Criminology, Simon Fraser University, Vancouver. As she mentions on the website for the project, the voices of adult entertainers are crucial in debates surrounding the regulation of the adult industry. She is interested in interviewing:

• Managers of escort agencies, strip clubs and body rub parlours.
• Men and women working for escort agencies, in strip clubs and in body rub parlours.

The researcher comes from a perspective which recognizes and supports the rights of individual sex workers, including their rights to remain in or leave sex work; she has done quite a bit of volunteer work with sex workers organizations and support groups; and from skimming some of her publications, she sounds like someone I would trust to produce a very interesting analysis of the regulation of sex work in Canada. Her methodology looks rigorous and in line with any academic methodology which involves the participations of at risk population - note that as it is standard practice with any academic research, she had to have her project and its methodology approved by the SFU Research Ethics Board.

I would encourage sex workers to contact her to participate in her study. Also note that should you allow her to, the interview will be recorded and transcripted, and participant may request a copy of the written transcript: I strongly suggest you do request such transcript, and carefully review it to make sure that you were understood and quoted properly.

I have myself already contacted her and scheduled an interview with her.

For more info on the research project, the researcher, and her methodology, check out her website: http://www.regulatingsex.com/

 

[EnigMA]

I am not interested, I just want to get into your pants.

 

[newrose]

Be nice iab Gen brings up an interesting subject.

 

[Power of m squared]

This research may help in the legalization or decriminalization of prositution....something that is seriously needed to protect the ladies rights and their welfare.

Gen and Nikki are the hardest working advocates of decriminalizing prostitution that I've ever had the pleasure of meeting. We should all help them out as much as we can. I believe sometime in September it will be before the Supreme Court of Canada....let's cheer them on and hope for a positive outcome!!

 

[METROPOLIS1]

Thanks for the compliment Iceman, but there are many people who deserve the praise much more than I do, Nikki being one of them. My own contribution to sex workers rights activism is rather limited, mostly consisting of contributions to review board discussions on the topic.

 

[saleem]

Gen, thanks for the link. I wish more research like Dr. Whowell's was being done in the States. My friend thesis while at Rutgers was on legalizing prostitution. Sadly, it went no where.

 

[krizutch]

Thanks for sharing this Gen, I like this project a lot and I'm also planning to participate.

Regarding my involvement in sex work activism, I'm really just one voice among many. The important thing is that we all work towards the same common goals, and find a way to make ourselves heard. So much activism is happening at the grassroots level, and there are many groups that are trying to make sex workers lives just a little better. We're approaching from the legal route right now, but as Riley points out, there are many different paths that can take us to our common goals.

Me? I'm just a tiny cog in a really big wheel, and I'm only doing this because I have a hard time keeping my big mouth shut.

(not that any of you boys would ever complain about that...) :tongue:

 

[Robert Cordiak]

But you are the only two I know personally



Sad our society is so self absorbed in it's own righteous indignation at times...



A missing cog will not make the machine move forward. Your work (and that of your peers) is greatly appreciated.

 

[Theresa P]

*bump*

Thanks Gen, I'm also really interested and have contacted.

 

[Alexandra M]

Thanks for posting this, Gen.

Providers and clients alike need to take an active interest in these developments, as it affects us all. After all, if the girls* are well taken care of, then we reap the rewards, right?


*and boys

 

[nota-loka]

Outstanding thread. Great contribution.

thetank