Thesis (Ph.D.)--Ohio University, June, 2009. / Title from PDF t.p. Release of full electronic text on OhioLINK has been delayed until June 1, 2014. Includes bibliographical references (p. 398-424)

Thesis (M.T.S.)--Catholic Theological Union, 1980.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Montréal, 1997. / Includes bibliographical references.

Research on female street prostitutes has focused on negative consequences of the lifestyle. Yet, there is a dearth of literature on resilience and coping. This study addresses resilience and coping skills among three groups of women in various stages of prostitution: actively prostituting, exited the lifestyle for less than six months and exited for more than eighteen months. Aims included a description, a comparison and exploration of relationships for the following variables: trauma in childhood and adulthood, physical and mental health problems, number of provider visits in the last year, resilience and coping skills. There is an estimated 70,000 to one million prostitutes in the United States. Female Street prostitutes suffer the highest rates of violence, abuse, and stigma of all types of sex workers with the violence often leading to an increase in premature mortality. Female street prostitutes have been shown to be at high risk for mental and physical health problems, violence, and homelessness. There were 50 female street prostitutes who completed the following seven questionnaires: Demographic Characteristics, The Adverse Childhood Experiences, Adult Trauma Questionnaire, Health Questionnaire, The Connor Davidson Resilience Scale, The Ways of Coping, and The Global Appraisal of Individual Needs Short Screener. The findings support women who exited the lifestyle of prostitution for more than eighteen months had a higher score on resilience. The women were able to address substance abuse, crime/violence, and externalizing issues early in treatment however scores on internalizing issues were only lower in the women exiting the lifestyle for 18 months or more. Women who had exited for more than 18 months had higher positive reappraisal scores and lower distancing. Women still prostituting reported acute health issues whereas women exiting the lifestyle for 18 months or more reported chronic issues. These findings suggest that women who have experienced trauma throughout their lives will need longer-term treatment to promote resilient reintegration into society. Access to therapy is needed early upon exiting the lifestyle. Healthcare providers need to be educated to recognize red flags of prostitutes so appropriate assessments and interventions can occur much earlier in their life.

D. Litt. et Phil. / Sex work is a phenomenon that has been studied and debated with much fascination and controversy. It is influenced by many of the legal and social structures in society, often with little regard for the sex workers themselves. The aim of this study was to describe the lived experience of sex workers in the context of post-apartheid South Africa, using phenomenological methodology. The trans-historical and trans-cultural nature of sex work has led to the creation and application of several theoretical frameworks that attempt to explain and further understand the sex work phenomenon. These theoretical frameworks include Functionalist theory (Jarvinen, 1993; Wojcicki, 2003), Social Interactionist theory (Jarvinen, 1993) and Classification theory (Self & Burke, 2001), and the critical debate from the Feminist movement (O’Neill, 2001). Recently, more holistic theories have been used to study sex work including Systems theory and Family Systems theory (Dalla, 2006). Various other critical theories have also been applied to sex work (Carpenter, 2000; O’Neill, 2001; Weitzer, 2005). Along with theoretical frameworks, several significant themes have emerged in the literature that may contribute toward understanding and explaining women’s entry into, and decision to remain in, the sex work industry. These themes include victimisation in childhood (Dalla, 2006), physical and emotional abandonment by caregivers, poverty (Bucardo, Semple, Frage-Vellejo, Davila & Patterson 2004; Vanwesenbeek, 1994, 2001), substance abuse (Dalla, 2006; Vanwesenbeek, 1994) and attachment behaviour (Slater, 2007; Wilson, 2001). Other themes are significant in understanding women’s experiences of sex work including the practical, social and psychological motivation for male clients to seek out prostitutes. These themes also address issues of violence and victimisation (Anderson & Anderson, 2008; Grenz, 2005; O’Connell Davidson, 2003; Vanwesenbeek, 1994).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of California, San Diego and San Diego State University, 2007. / Title from first page of PDF file (viewed March 18, 2008). Available via ProQuest Digital Dissertations. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (p. 86-98).

Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts (Counselling Psychology) in the Department of Psychology University of Zululand, 2003. / This phenomenological study explores the experience of male sex-workers. The aim of this study was to contribute to the knowledge and understanding of this complex phenomenon and hopefully serve as a foundation for future research and counselling interventions in this field. A comprehensive literature review examining the individual and contextual issues rooted in the world of commercial sex between men is provided, and forms a firm foundation and backdrop for this study. The design of this study was qualitative and proceeded from a phenomenological stance. Data was collected through in-depth, unstructured interviews with four, white South African men who were currently working as male prostitutes. The interviews were recorded on audiotape and transcribed verbatim for each participant. The data was then categorized, coded and analyzed inter-individually in order to discover common and contrasting themes and patterns. These were tied together to form a hypothetical and general description of the experience of the male sex-worker.

No description available.

Cao, Lida. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2007. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 129-141). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Chapter Chapter 1: --- Introduction: Background and Purpose of the Research --- p.1 / Chapter 1. --- Prostitution/sex work in China: Upsurge in an era of HIV/AIDS --- p.1 / Chapter 2. --- Rationale and significance of research --- p.4 / Chapter 3. --- Research framework --- p.5 / Chapter 4. --- Layout of thesis --- p.8 / Chapter Chapter 2: --- Literature Review: Female Sex Workers and Identity --- p.10 / Chapter 1. --- Multiple contexts locating sex workers' identities --- p.11 / Chapter 1) --- Medical discourse: identity as a byproduct of health researches on sex workers --- p.11 / Chapter 2) --- Work discourse: rising rofessionalism --- p.13 / Chapter 3) --- Gender talk: Female sex workers as women --- p.16 / Chapter 4) --- Identity conflicts & management: the arise of multiple identities --- p.18 / Chapter 2. --- Management of Stigma: Theories and empirical works --- p.21 / Chapter 3. --- A review of rostitution/sex work studies in China --- p.23 / Chapter Chapter 3: --- Methodology --- p.31 / Chapter 1. --- Qualitative interviewing --- p.31 / Chapter 1) --- Nature and Distinctiveness --- p.32 / Chapter 2) --- Data production --- p.33 / Chapter 3) --- "The relationship, validity of data, and ethnic issues" --- p.34 / Chapter 4) --- Limitation and Weakness --- p.37 / Chapter 2. --- On-site research work --- p.38 / Chapter 1) --- Sampling --- p.39 / Chapter 2) --- Access and interview process --- p.40 / Chapter 3. --- Analysis: Grounded theory approach --- p.42 / Chapter 1) --- Coding --- p.44 / Chapter 2) --- Memos --- p.45 / Chapter Chapter 4: --- "Rethinking Stigma on Sex Workers: Experience, Consequences and Management" --- p.47 / Chapter 1. --- Introduction --- p.47 / Chapter 1) --- Theoretical Framework --- p.49 / Chapter 2) --- Stigmatization of sex work in China --- p.50 / Chapter 2. --- The experience of stigmatization --- p.52 / Chapter 1) --- Role-based interaction --- p.53 / Chapter 2) --- Close interaction --- p.54 / Chapter 3) --- Casual encounters --- p.56 / Chapter 3. --- Consequences of stigmatization --- p.57 / Chapter 1) --- Depreciative self-reflection --- p.57 / Chapter 2) --- Distancing from the normal --- p.59 / Chapter 3) --- Psycho burden of disclosure --- p.60 / Chapter 4. --- Managing the Stigma --- p.61 / Chapter 1) --- Information management --- p.62 / Chapter 2) --- Normalization techniques --- p.65 / Chapter 5. --- Conclusion --- p.70 / Chapter Chapter 5: --- "Exploring the “Work Identity"": Sex Workers' Identity Management in the World of Work" --- p.72 / Chapter 1. --- Introduction --- p.72 / Chapter 1) --- "Workers, sex workers and migrant workers in China" --- p.75 / Chapter 2) --- Analytical Framework --- p.77 / Chapter 2. --- Sex work in the eyes of sex workers --- p.79 / Chapter 3. --- Managing relationships --- p.80 / Chapter 1) --- With clients --- p.80 / Chapter 2) --- With co-workers --- p.85 / Chapter 3) --- With bosses --- p.87 / Chapter 4. --- Managing the working self --- p.88 / Chapter 1) --- The health R --- p.88 / Chapter 2) --- The emotions --- p.90 / Chapter 5. --- Career Crisis and Planning Exit --- p.91 / Chapter 6. --- Conclusion --- p.94 / Chapter Chapter 6: --- "“Being women"": Sex Workers' Gender Identity Construction" --- p.96 / Chapter 1. --- Introduction --- p.96 / Chapter 1) --- Theoretical framework --- p.99 / Chapter 2) --- Women' status in China --- p.101 / Chapter 2. --- Reflecting over being a woman --- p.103 / Chapter 1) --- Ideal woman imagination --- p.103 / Chapter 2) --- Ideal husband imagination --- p.105 / Chapter 3) --- Reflecting gender equality --- p.106 / Chapter 3. --- Doing gender within relations --- p.108 / Chapter 1) --- As daughters --- p.109 / Chapter 2) --- As wives --- p.112 / Chapter 3) --- As mothers --- p.116 / Chapter 4. --- The gendered self --- p.118 / Chapter 1) --- The body --- p.119 / Chapter 2) --- The soul --- p.120 / Chapter 5. --- Conclusion --- p.122 / Chapter Chapter 7: --- Conclusion --- p.125 / Bibliography --- p.129

In 1984 the State Parliament of Victoria began the process of legalising sectors of the Victorian sex industry. Reforming legislation was enacted in 1984, 1986 and 1994. To date there has been no research assessing the changes to the industry that have occurred as a result of the legalisation process, and in particular, the effect it has had on the lives of the women working in the industry. / This research has examined the impact of sex industry law reform on the working and private lives of women in the Victorian sex industry. Interviews were conducted with twenty women, nine of whom had worked in the industry prior to legalisation. All but four of the interviewees had experienced work in the industry before and after reforms. / A number of significant findings were made. Since legalisation brothels have become cleaner and physical surroundings have been improved. However, the owners and managers of industry businesses have increased their level of control over workers by determining services to be offered, fees to be charged and clothes to be worn.