ABSTRACT
Co-workers as risks, resources and allies Women’s opinions about co-workers inform not only how they view the sex industry but also how they manage their work. Three broad approaches to working with other sex workers emerged from the analysis, as the interview data/responses revealed a diversity of perceptions about other sex workers, workplace factors and work strategies. The first approach is termed protective, which is marked by the perception that other workers in the industry are ultimately another risk to be managed. The second approach is termed professionalism, which is defined as viewing co-workers as competitors as well as valuable resources. Workers in this group advocated distinct boundaries between the workplace and one’s personal life, but valued collegial working relationships in order to maintain productive and profitable working environments. The third approach is termed solidarity. Workers in this group spoke of other sex workers as supportive allies, expressed concern for their co-workers’ welfare beyond the workplace and believed that strong bonds between workers strengthened business. This typology does not constitute a how-to guide for sex work, but rather offers insight into how workers’ interactions with co-workers shapes their understanding of the sex industry and the safety and mobility strategies they use.
