Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2024 Jun 29;21(7):852.
doi: 10.3390/ijerph21070852.

Sex Work and Parenthood: The Experiences of Female Sex Workers Who Are also Parents or Caregivers: A Scoping Review

Mokhwelepa Leshata Winter  1 , Sumbane Gsakani Olivia  1
Affiliations

Sex Work and Parenthood: The Experiences of Female Sex Workers Who Are also Parents or Caregivers: A Scoping Review

Mokhwelepa Leshata Winter et al. Int J Environ Res Public Health. .

Abstract

Complex interactions exist between sex work and parenthood, impacting the lives of those in sex work who also provide care for others. This scoping review aims to review the experiences and challenges of female sex workers who are parents or caregivers, highlighting the socioeconomic, psychological, and legal dimensions of their dual roles. The rationale for this review stems from the recognition that sex workers who are also parents face unique and multifaceted challenges that significantly impact their wellbeing and that of their children. The five stages of a scoping review suggested by Arksey and O'Malley were followed in this study. A comprehensive literature search was conducted across electronic databases such as PubMed, PsycINFO, and Google Scholar. This study covered publications written in English from 2010 to 2023. Studies were selected based on their focus on sex workers who are parents or caregivers. Both qualitative and quantitative research articles were included. Thematic analysis was employed to synthesize findings across the selected studies. Studies published prior to 2013, studies that were not published in English, and studies that did not address the experiences of female sex workers who are parents or caregivers were excluded from this study. The review identified 14 studies meeting the inclusion criteria. Five key themes emerged from this study: (1) social stigma and healthcare discrimination; (2) legal challenges; (3) mental nexus; (4) risk behaviors and exposing children to a hazardous environment; and (5) social support. Sex workers who are also parents or caregivers navigate a multifaceted landscape of challenges and resilience. Policy reforms are needed to reduce stigma, provide financial support, and ensure legal protections for this key population.

Keywords: caregiving; coping strategies; criminalization; financial pressure; mental health; parenthood; sex work; stigma.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Flow chart representing the search strategy [24].
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Similar articles

See all similar articles

References

    1. Nestadt D.F., Park J.N., Galai N., Beckham S.W., Decker M.R., Zemlak J., Sherman S.G. Sex workers as mothers: Correlates of engagement in sex work to support children. Glob. Soc. Welf. 2021;8:251–261. doi: 10.1007/s40609-021-00213-8. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Benoit C., Ouellet N., Jansson M., Magnus S., Smith M. Would you think about doing sex for money? Structure and agency in deciding to sell sex in Canada. Work. Employ. Soc. 2017;31:731–747. doi: 10.1177/0950017016679331. - DOI
    1. Fielding-Miller R., Mnisi Z., Adams D., Baral S., Kennedy C. “There is hunger in my community”: A qualitative study of food security as a cyclical force in sex work in Swaziland. BMC Public Health. 2014;14:79. doi: 10.1186/1471-2458-14-79. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Mohammad K., Foroozanfar Z., Ahmadi A., Haghdoost A.A., Vogel J., Zolala F. How sex work becomes an option: Experiences of female sex workers in Kerman, Iran. Cult. Health Sex. 2016;18:58–70. - PubMed
    1. Dodsworth J. Sex worker and mother: Managing dual and threatened identities. Child Fam. Soc. Work. 2014;19:99–108. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2206.2012.00889.x. - DOI

Publication types

LinkOut - more resources