ABSTRACT
Despite significant changes in the organization and status of sex work in recent decades, in many ways it remains a precarious form of work that lacks labour rights, protections against occupational risks, and social security, while simultaneously offering flexibility, autonomy, income potential, and work–life balance. This chapter examines the multidimensional and ambivalent nature of precarity in sex work, focusing on how various factors of precarity shape workers’ perceptions of the quality of work. We argue that precarity in sex work transcends mainstream understandings of precarious labour and is shaped by diverse forms of employment and social context, including labour market regulations and stigma. Our empirical research based on a survey of sex work in Slovenia shows that it shares many traits with precarious employment, particularly regarding employment status, forms of employment, and stigmatized occupational status. Notably, the ambivalence of precarity becomes apparent when comparing these challenging working conditions with workers’ positive assessments of the quality of work. While regulated and independent platform-based work can mitigate risks and improve working conditions, stigma remains a significant factor in diminishing the quality of sex work. Professional well-being is thus shaped not only by labour policies but also by the social status of a profession.
