Escort Work and Motherhood

This book examines the complex relationship that
exists between lone motherhood and sex work.
Utilizing interviews with fifteen independent escort
workers from Edmonton and Toronto, the author
demonstrates the need for policy makers to recognize
the different environmental contexts of mothers and
the uniqueness of individual experiences in order to
produce more targeted and effective policy.

The interviewees reported leading a double life
characterized by shame, fear, stigmatization and
discrimination. It was discovered that the double
life which many of these women live is not only
stressful but also a serious impediment to their
ability to effectively parent. The author argues that
it is the current legal status of sex work which
poses barriers to these women, and asserts that
decriminalization and the recognition of sex worker
as work will grant these women access to the support
that other working mothers may have.

Beyond decriminalization, the author makes a series
of recommendations that were based on the needs
expressed throughout the interviews. The
implementation of these recommendations could be
hastened by decriminalization and a strong sex
workers union.

Autorentext

Amee is PhD candidate in Political Science at the University ofAlberta. Her fields of specialization are gender and comparativepolitics. Her most recent research focuses on sex workers and thepolicy making process. She currently lives in Edmonton and can becontacted at amee@ualberta.ca.

Klappentext

This book examines the complex relationship thatexists between lone motherhood and sex work.Utilizing interviews with fifteen independent escortworkers from Edmonton and Toronto, the authordemonstrates the need for policy makers to recognizethe different environmental contexts of mothers andthe uniqueness of individual experiences in order toproduce more targeted and effective policy. The interviewees reported leading a double lifecharacterized by shame, fear, stigmatization anddiscrimination. It was discovered that the doublelife which many of these women live is not onlystressful but also a serious impediment to theirability to effectively parent. The author argues thatit is the current legal status of sex work whichposes barriers to these women, and asserts thatdecriminalization and the recognition of sex workeras work will grant these women access to the supportthat other working mothers may have. Beyond decriminalization, the author makes a seriesof recommendations that were based on the needsexpressed throughout the interviews. Theimplementation of these recommendations could behastened by decriminalization and a strong sexworkers union.