Resistance And Recognition: Sex Workers Organizing

Introduction & objectives (methods) In line with the more recent literature treating sex work as a form of marginalized labour, this paper will explore the experiences of sex workers in Montreal from a number of vantage points. First, by furnishing a brief history of Canadian legislation criminalizing sex work, second by providing a brief history of Stella (an organization by and for sex workers founded in 1995), and third, by recounting some stories about the challenges of organizing from the margins in the current socio-legal environment. Based on data collected for a larger study on Canadian public policy and the health and well-being of sex workers, documents produced by Stella, and interviews with a small number of key-informants, the paper examines Stella’s struggles to organize during their first 10 years. This was a period in Canada marked with an increase in empirically grounded research about sex work highlighting the diversity of workers in the industry as well as their vulnerability to assault, substandard and unsafe work conditions, and their marginalization from mainstream social and community institutions. Main body/Results Specific examples of resistance and recognition—which seemed to go hand in hand—will be identified, including some clips from Live eXXXpressions: Sex Workers Stand up in Montreal. Examples of Stella’s publications will be available for perusal, including the proceedings from the XXX Forum, an event involving 250 sex workers and activists from around the World who came together to celebrate the global sex workers’ rights movement and Stella’s 10th anniversary. Conclusions The analysis suggests that the options for successful organizing are limited. Nevertheless, Stella continues to dialogue strategically when opportunities present and will carry on with their publication and education strategies. In addition, they have decided to organize by “strengthening from within,” a decision clearly evident in the success of the XXX Forum.

Conflict of Interest: None disclosed
Financial Support/Funding: Social Sciences And Humanities Research Council Of Canada
Sydney Australia, April 2007