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Brothels as Sites of Third-Party Exploitation? Decriminalisation and Sex Workers’ Employment Rights

Author

Listed:
  • Gillian Abel

    (Department of Population Health, University of Otago, Christchurch 8140, New Zealand)

  • Melissa Ludeke

    (Department of Population Health, University of Otago, Christchurch 8140, New Zealand)

Abstract

Decriminalisation is arguably essential to protecting the human rights of sex workers. Nonetheless, there are suggestions that decriminalisation has less influence on sex workers’ experiences of working than many assume. This paper explores management practices in brothels in the context of decriminalisation in New Zealand, focusing on sex workers’ employment status, managerial control and agency. We interviewed 14 brothel operators and 17 brothel-based sex workers in this study. The findings suggest that there remain challenges for sex workers in that brothel operators treated them as employees rather than independent contractors. Brothel operators retained control over shift times and pricing of services, and working conditions were unclear. Most sex workers understood their rights, but when operators impinged on their rights, it was often more expedient to move place of work than make an official complaint. However, decriminalisation did have a meaningful impact on the way sex workers negotiated potentially exploitative dimensions of brothel-based work. Decriminalisation has provided the context where it is possible for sex workers to experience safer and more supportive work environments than they otherwise might, where they can (and sometimes do) contest managerial control.

Suggested Citation

  • Gillian Abel & Melissa Ludeke, 2020. "Brothels as Sites of Third-Party Exploitation? Decriminalisation and Sex Workers’ Employment Rights," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 10(1), pages 1-15, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jscscx:v:10:y:2020:i:1:p:3-:d:467906
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Alice Orchiston, 2016. "Precarious or Protected? Evaluating Work Quality in the Legal Sex Industry," Sociological Research Online, , vol. 21(4), pages 173-187, November.
    2. Jessica Van Meir, 2017. "Sex Work and the Politics of Space: Case Studies of Sex Workers in Argentina and Ecuador," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 6(2), pages 1-40, April.
    3. Katie Cruz & Kate Hardy & Teela Sanders, 2017. "False Self-Employment, Autonomy and Regulating for Decent Work: Improving Working Conditions in the UK Stripping Industry," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 55(2), pages 274-294, June.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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