Sex work and sex workers’ unionization are highly sensitive and controversial topics. An opinion persists that sex work should be prohibited and outlawed in various forms. This often translates into sex workers lacking agency and being endangered in their workplaces, both physically and economically. Therefore, it is crucial for sex workers to unionize and have equal representation for worker rights to ensure their agency and protection of rights similar to workers in other industries.
The ban on sex workers forming labor unions impacts the agency and control they can exert over their working conditions, payment, and services they are willing to provide. Legal barriers to sex work, including the criminalization of prostitution, lead to sex workers lacking agency and being forced to work under undesirable conditions. Individuals have the agency to consent to sex work without this choice being viewed as the last resort and “an act of survival.” The criminalization of sex work and the inability of sex workers to unionize because of their trade being illegal resulted in them not being able to control their working environment and being denied appropriate remuneration. Sex workers should be able to establish labor unions to gain greater control over their profession, working environment, and services on offer.
Protection from sexual, physical, and financial abuse is another argument for permitting sex workers to unionize. Decriminalization and unionization of workers in the sex industry can allow them the necessary protection from abuse. If the trade is acknowledged as legal and workers are covered both by law and union regulations, they can gain better protection from assault and services they are not comfortable with performing. Unionization can contribute to the protection of sex workers, in particular, prostitutes, from the law enforcement and prosecution for their work. Labor unions can contribute to sex workers being financially protected from the abuse of brothel owners or pimps. The formation of unions can offer workers in the sex services industry similar protection to that of employees in other trades.
The establishment of labor unions in the sex industry can translate into sex workers being granted better access to health care and having better health outcomes. Sex workers are a highly stigmatized group, with health care services being limited to them. Medical professionals may be hesitant to advise workers in the industry on safe practices due to the belief that sex work is inherently unsafe labor. Research shows that sex workers may accept subpar treatment and poor medical advice as they consider their work dangerous and any harm to be deserved. Sex workers can opt to omit to mention their profession in health care settings, leading to physicians lacking their entire medical history and adverse health outcomes. Labor unions can demand health care to become a legally protected right for sex workers, emphasizing sexual and reproductive health. They can help protect persons engaged in different types of sex work from discrimination by medical professionals, resulting in better health and well-being outcomes.
Nevertheless, several disadvantages to prostitution being legalized and unionized need to be acknowledged. Legalization and unionization can lead to substantial changes in the sex work market and, consequently, higher demand for sex services. A sudden increase in demand can lead to human trafficking to address the new market needs and illegal prostitution being rampant. Unions may not be able to accommodate all sex workers as some persons in the industry prefer to work from home or visit clients. Unionization may force them to work on the street and include their sex work career on their resume against their wishes. Thus, unionization can disadvantage a large proportion of sex workers.
In summary, sex workers should be allowed to form union groups and have equal representation for worker rights as the employees in other industries. Labor unions can contribute to workers engaged in different types of sex work being less stigmatized and reclaiming individual agency in their professions. Furthermore, unions can provide necessary protection to workers from customers, employers, and law enforcement and lobby for sex workers’ rights and protection within the health care sector, leading to better health outcomes.
Bibliography
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