Completed in 2011

The job satisfaction levels and standards of living of sex workers in licensed brothels in Victoria were compared with Australian women.

We found that the main reasons women started sex work was because “they needed the money” (69%). 44% were attracted to the flexible hours and 43% had a particular goal in mind. The two biggest concerns women had about sex work were their safety (65%) and the risk of sexually transmissible infections (65%). Women reported that they primarily do sex work for financial gain. A significant minority preferred sex work to other work that they would be likely to do.

Publications

The job satisfaction of female sex workers working in licensed brothels in Victoria, Australia

Bilardi JE, Miller A, Hocking JS, Keogh L, Cummings R, Chen MY, Bradshaw CS and Fairley CK

(2011), Journal of Sexual Medicine,

DOI: 10.1111/j.1743-6109.2010.01967.x