Key Data. Contact us. Background In social work research, vulnerability and resilience are not understood exclusively as individual characteristics of a person, but rather the living conditions and structures that lead to particular or increased vulnerability. As far as the living conditions of sex workers are concerned, there is a strong interaction between finances, housing conditions, place of work, social network, personal autonomy and health.
For example, if rents increase financial pressure, this can lead to sex workers taking higher risks at work, disregarding health prevention measures or being more likely to become victims of violence and pressure. Little research has been conducted into which organisational forms of sex work reduce vulnerability. Politically, there is a fundamental debate about whether or not prohibition or liberal regulation fuel exploitation and vulnerability. A look at vulnerability research would show that this is less a question of models and systems than of their concrete implementation.
Based on this consideration, the present research project aims to design possible forms of organisation of sex work that shape the living and working conditions of sex workers in such a way that essential vulnerability factors are mitigated and that the overall financial, legal and social pressure emanating from the living and working conditions in the city of Zurich is low. This will not eliminate the fundamental poverty and precarious living situation of many sex workers, but it should remove significant burdens and provide relief.
Goals The aim of this research project is to find out which forms of housing and work would be suitable for sex workers in the city of Zurich in order to enable sex work to be carried out as independently and self-determinedly as possible,eliminate or at least defuse existing dependency or exploitation relationships,reduce health, social, financial and legal risks,facilitate access to social, medical, financial and legal support,avoid creating new dependencies as far as possible andexperience self-efficacy.
Specifically, several variants of possible forms of living and working will be described and evaluated according to a catalogue of criteria yet to be developed.
