Voices matter: supporting women who sell sex to share their testimonies

By Linda Thompson, National Coordinator at the Women’s Support Project
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Lived experience is very much in organisation’s minds and mouths these days. Yet, meaningfully engaging women who have experienced trauma and abuse requires careful thinking, planning and care, as well as safeguarding considerations. And when these experiences relate to being involved in the ‘sex industry’, there is an added layer of sensitivity to consider.

Most women involved in selling sex do not disclose their experiences even to their closest people. And so, it is a huge ask to expect women to waive their anonymity and ‘out’ themselves in order to share their stories for the world to hear or read. I remember so clearly talking with women about what the consequences may be if others in their lives found out. It can impact relationships, employment, put their community against them and even put their safety at risk.

Years ago, one woman told me how she was standing on the street waiting for a punter to choose her and, unbeknownst to her, a news film crew were recording a story on street prostitution, which captured her in the background. She wasn’t asked nor did she consent to this recording. Her mother contacted her after seeing the report in the news, having recognised her coat and hairstyle. She had to deal with the fallout, while the filming crew obviously hadn’t thought that a person far off in the background could be recognised. 

Women should not have to ‘out’ themselves in front of journalists, civil servants, politicians, strategic leads, policy makers and the general public in order to have a valid place at the table. Back in 2017, at the Women’s Support Project we were very conscious of similar experiences when we started Inside Outside, a project sharing the voices of women selling sex in Scotland.

We worked with women to ensure they remained in control of their stories and could share their expertise in safe and creative ways. Even after hours of interviewing and conversations, they always had the choice to withdraw from the project and ask us to delete the story. Some women chose this and we respected their decision, no questions asked. After all, for some women, what they get out of speaking out is the process of breaking the silence and stigma surrounding their experiences.

Giving evidence for the Scottish Parliament
The voices of women involved in the sex industry are very much the focus at the minute with the recent consultation by the Scottish Parliament on the introduction of a new prostitution-related legislation. I was privileged to be tasked with interviewing a small group of six women and one man for this consultation. I worked alongside committee clerks to find a safe way for them to have their opinions and reflections shared and heard. 

Sitting in front of a committee is not the best approach for every person – and some expressed they could not meet with a group of politicians behind closed doors either. Despite the odds, we were able to create a process that felt safe and comfortable, and here are some reflections on what that involved:

• Understanding the trauma of involvement in selling sex and its long-lasting effects. A woman may choose to speak out and feel fully prepared, but scrutiny and pressure can lead to a loss of control, and trigger past experiences that echo how hard it was and still is to maintain boundaries.
• How crucial informed consent is. Survivors need to know exactly what is going to happen and agree beforehand how to remain in control of the process of telling their stories. For some, this included agreeing a safe word or gesture to show that they had enough or wanted to take a break.
• Truly allowing withdrawal from the process. Survivors knew they could stop at any stage with no consequences or reprisals.
• Survivors must be assured that time constraints will not limit participation. We set a lot of time aside for each interviews.  If she needed to take a break, however long, that is her right and possibility.  A long walk in the middle was ok, as was a shorter one to go and cuddle her children.
• Women may not want to take part in a group discussion or setting as they may have concerns around confidentiality and anonymity.  It’s a big expectation for women who have had complex, challenging and traumatic experiences to come together and open up when the ‘sex industry’ in Scotland can feel like a small community for some.
• Survivors need to see their experiences and opinions reflected in any final report or response. Any final outputs must feel connected and authentic to what they have said and shared. 

Throughout this process what shone through were the astute understandings and bravery of those who shared their voices. And the final report reflects just that - you can read the final summary here.​