Skip to main content
Kent Academic Repository

Out of sight, out of mind? Prostitution policy and the health, well-being and safety of home-based sex workers

Prior, Jason, Hubbard, Philip (2013) Out of sight, out of mind? Prostitution policy and the health, well-being and safety of home-based sex workers. Critical Social Policy, 33 (1). pp. 140-159. (doi:10.1177/0261018312449807) (KAR id:28995)

Abstract

Policy discussions relating to the selling of sex have tended to fixate on two spaces of sex work: the street and the brothel. Such preoccupation has arguably eclipsed discussion of the working environment where most sex is sold, namely the private home. Redressing this omission, this paper discusses the public health and safety implications of policies that fail to regulate or assist the ‘hidden population’ of sex workers, focusing on the experiences of home-based workers in Sydney, NSW. Considering the inconsistent way that Home Occupation Sex Services Premises (HOSSPs) are regulated in this city, this paper discusses the implications of selling sex beyond the gaze of the state and law. It is concluded that working from home can allow sex workers to exercise considerable autonomy over their working practices, but that the safety and legality of such premises must be considered in the development of (non-punitive) prostitution policy.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1177/0261018312449807
Subjects: H Social Sciences
H Social Sciences > HM Sociology
Divisions: Divisions > Division for the Study of Law, Society and Social Justice > School of Social Policy, Sociology and Social Research
Depositing User: Phil Hubbard
Date Deposited: 06 Mar 2012 13:42 UTC
Last Modified: 16 Nov 2021 10:07 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/28995 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

University of Kent Author Information

Hubbard, Philip.

Creator's ORCID:
CReDIT Contributor Roles:
  • Depositors only (login required):

Total unique views for this document in KAR since July 2020. For more details click on the image.