The lived experiences of street-based sex workers in Woodstock, Cape Town

[摘要] English Abstract: This study presents 'Participatory Action' based research, combined with first personnarration and lived experiences, that was conducted with street-based sex workers,based in Woodstock, Cape Town, between 2015 and 2017. The study commenceswith a historical account of sex work in Cape Town and the ensuing legislation thatgoverned it, together with a brief overview of contemporary legislation regarding sexwork. As I demonstrate, the lack of personal narrative afforded to sex workerscoincides with forms of censorship that pervade state archives and that largely excludesex workers from public memory. Secondly, attention is drawn to the importance ofhaving the opportunity to narrate personal experiences and autobiographical accountsin the public domain in an attempt to destabilise stereotypes and myths around sexworkers. Sarah Pink's (2007) methodology of 'walking with participants' is important inthis regard, as it informs the collaborative research that I conducted. As this studydemonstrates, this collaboration between myself and the sex workers who participatedin this study allows for a space where alternative discourses on sex work canpotentially contribute to a more nuanced understanding of the identity and livingenvironments of sex workers.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University