Sex commercial work is an income generating activity whereby regularly, money, shelter or even protection food is exchangeable for sexual acts. It may involve men, women, underage children and even transgender adults. The involvement is in most cases consensual. A commercial sex worker is any female or male adult or children who engage in the trade. It is transacted globally (Bradley, 2013).
Sex commercial work is perceived differently among different communities. While others see it just like any other trade, other communities especially those with religious backgrounds see it as evil and notoriously condemn it (Brunton, 2010). Sex workers in such communities suffered from victimization and treated as outcasts. They mostly suffer from low social exclusion and capital. Studies carried out to reveal that there are many factors that, draw people to this trade. While others get into it out of sheer engagement, others forced into it by financial constraints and desire to fend for themselves and their families, watching pornographic materials or even unfortunate circumstances like human trafficking (Ditmore, 2006).
Sex commercial work is in most cases connected to drug use and crime. Scholars and researchers argue that most sex workers are drug users with the latter leading to the former. Drug use is an extravagant lifestyle to sustain and users result into the easiest way to finance the vice is through prostitution (Loue, 2006). Research also shows that clients of the trading range across all demographic factors. Men and women in their actual sexual ages, married and in relationships, divorcees, employed and unemployed as well as the rich and the poor. The reasons for buying the services also vary with some citing fun, sexually unproductive and unresponsive partners, peer pressure among the young buyers just to mention a few.
Over the years, commercial sex work been singled out as an area concern prompting enactment of legislative policies across many nations with some striving to change the name of the trade from prostitution to commercial sex work ( Brunton, 2010). Some countries have also set aside streets and allowed brothels whereby the traders can be easily accessed. Efforts have been made to improve their inclusivity in the society and have people change their perception about the trade. Social organizations have also risen to protect the sex traders and campaign for their inclusivity in the community and some fighting to legalize the trade. They also offer social education to the workers on ways of protecting themselves from malicious buyers with vile intentions. Efforts are continually being made to curb the issue of underage sex workers and human trafficking. Harsh legal penalties have been enacted to protect minors from the trade (Majic, 2004)
Sex commercial work is linked, with the prevalent spread of sexually transmitted infections and HIV/ AIDs, unwanted pregnancies and subsequent abortions (Abbu-Raddad, 2010). Individuals and community-based organizations have come out to offer education on protective measures against infections as well as offer education on contraceptives as well as provide them in a bid to curb unwanted pregnancies and births.
Sex commercial work is a trade that is going nowhere globally. Although attempts are being made to integrate the trader and the traders into our societies, at the end of the day, an individual's beliefs, religion, social upbringing and social norms that will determine how they perceive the trade.
References
Abu-Raddad, L. J., & World Bank. (2010). Characterizing the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the Middle East, and North Africa: Time for strategic action. Washington, D.C: World Bank.
Bradley-Engen, M. S., Garofalo, G., Hossain, M. S., Kaye, K., Kelly, P., Koken, J., Brents, B. G., Willman, A. (2013). Sex Work Matters: Exploring Money, Power, and Intimacy in the Sex Industry. London: Zed Books.
Brunton, C., Fitzgerald, L., Healy, C., & Abel, G. (2010). Taking the crime out of sex work: New Zealand sex workers' fight for decriminalization. Bristol, UK: Policy Press
Ditmore, M. H. (2006). Encyclopedia of prostitution and sex work: Vol. 1. Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood Press.
Loue, S. (2006). Sexual partnering, sexual practices, and health. New York, NY: Springer.
Majic, S. (2014). Sex work politics: From protest to service provision.
Request Removal
If you are the original author of this essay and no longer wish to have it published on the customtermpaperwriting.org website, please click below to request its removal:
