Close
About this Project

Concept: MaShaela MacKenzie

Assisted By: Kayla Perry

Website and Mobile Apps implemented professor Brian MacMillan as part of the Sarah Lawrence College Innovation Lab. Version 2016-04-19.

Unproven Voluntary Sex Worker Perceptions

An examination of psychological, health and public perceptions of voluntary sex workers.

Swipe or use button navigation to proceed

Definitions Start

Page 1

About

About This Study

The purpose of this research is to understand the extent to which people involved in voluntary sex work experience mental health problems and are exposed to psychological trauma related to their work. This study also aims to compare some common perceptions regarding the morality, background, and lifestyle of voluntary sex workers with the information provided by sex workers themselves.

In this study we ask you to fill out a web based questionnaire. You will be asked to answer questions about your experience or perception of voluntary sex work, morality, family life, and lifestyle.

The study takes approximately 15 minutes to complete.

Informed Consent Agreement

Thank you for participating in this survey. Your feedback is important. Please answer the following questions as honestly as possible.

The following questions concern voluntary sex work, including but not limited to: personal involvement, demographics, past and current trauma, interpersonal relationships, morality, and drug and alcohol use.

The purpose of this survey is to collect information related to trauma, depression, morality and lifestyle of sex workers. The intention is to learn whether or not there is any truth to some common perceptions of voluntary sex workers.

It is not anticipated that taking this survey will contain any risk or inconvenience to you. Furthermore, your participation is strictly voluntary and you may withdraw your participation at any time without penalty. You may choose to abstrain from answering any question you are uncomfortable with. To withdraw from the study, simply close your web browser or the app.

All information collected will be used only for research purposes and will be kept confidential, and is stored anonymously. Your information will be merged with the information you provided when you registered. The information you provide can not be linked back to you, and it will be reported only in aggregated form in academic publications.

If you have any questions about the study or your rights, please contact:

MaShaela Mackenzie

Kayla Perry

Brian MacMillan

Sarah Lawrence College

Bronxville, NY 10708

By clicking ACCEPT you are verifying that you have read the explanation of the study, and that you agree to participate. You also understand that your participation in this study is strictly voluntary.

Select a Questionnaire

If you are currently or previously have been involved in the sex industry, please select the following questionnaire:

Involvement With Sex Work (sex workers) Morality

If you have never been involved in the sex industry, please select the following questionnaire:

Perceptions of Sex Work (non sex workers) Morality

Basic Information

Are you currently or previously involved in voluntary sex work? What country or countries have you practiced voluntary sex work in?

If you are currently in the country where you engaged in sex work, click the share location button to allow us to record your geolocation, which we will only use as a data point on our survey. Please ignore this request if you prefer not contribute this information.

Latitude/longitude:

Background

What is your gender? What is your age? What is your political orientation? What is your religion? Do you regularly engage in religious practices?

Involvement With Sex Work

At what age did you enter voluntary sex work? At what age did you exit voluntary sex work? What type(s) of voluntary sex work do you currently participate in? Check all that apply. What type(s) of voluntary sex work did you previously participate in? Check all that apply. Why did you enter voluntary sex work? Check all that apply. Is the type of sex work you engage in legal where you live?

Socioeconomic Status

Do you currently have another job outside of the sex industry? Is sex work your primary source of income? About how much do/did you earn from sex work per month? About how much do/did you earn from an additional job outside the sex industry per month? Does anyone else contribute to your household income? Did your household income increase when you entered the sex industry?

Past Trauma

Before you became a sex worker, had you ever experienced physical abuse? Before you became a sex worker, had you ever experienced sexual abuse? Before you became a sex worker, had you ever experienced emotional abuse? Before you became a sex worker, did you experience the loss of a loved one? Before you became a sex worker, did you have a negative or destructive family dynamic?

Past Trauma

Before you became a sex worker did you or someone close to you go through a divorce or separation? Before you became a sex worker, did you frequently experiencence any of the following? Check all that apply. Do you attribute any of the feelings in the previous question to any of the events listed in this section? Check all that apply. While working in the sex industry have you ever experienced physical abuse while at work? While working in the sex industry have you ever experienced physical abuse outside of work?

Questionnaire List

Current Trauma

While working in the sex industry have you ever experienced emotional abuse while at work? While working in the sex industry have you ever experienced emotional abuse outside of work? While working in the sex industry have you ever experienced physical abuse while at work? While working in the sex industry have you ever experienced physical abuse outside of work? While working in the sex industry have you ever experienced sexual abuse while at work?

Current Trauma

While working in the sex industry have you ever experienced sexual abuse outside of work? While working in the sex industry have you ever experienced emotional abuse while at work? While working in the sex industry have you ever experienced emotional abuse outside of work? While working, have you typically felt safe and secure emotionally and physically?

Questionnaire List

Current Trauma

Have you ever performed a sexual act you were not comfortable with while at work? Do you regret your decision to enter the sex industry? Do you feel as though sex work is your only option? Has anyone tried to pressure you into leaving the sex industry? Has anyone tried to pressure you into remaining in the sex industry?

Questionnaire List

Enjoyment

Do you/did you enjoy your work in the sex industry?

Please rate your enjoyment of the following sexual acts.

BDSM (Bondage/Dominance/Submission/Masochism) Anal sex Same-gender sex Three-way sex

Questionnaire List

Enjoyment

Please rate your enjoyment of the following sexual acts.

Body-specific fetish (Foot, hand, etc.) Humiliation Sexual role play Exhibitionisn/Voyeurism Cross-dressing

Questionnaire List

Family and Support System

What is your relationship status? Does your partner know that you are/were in the sex industry? Do any of your family members know about your involvement in the sex industry? Do any of your friends know about your involvement in the sex industry? How many children do you have? Do your children know about your involvement in the sex industry?

Questionnaire List

Family and Support System

How many adults live in your home, not including yourself? How many children (under 18) live in your home, not including yourself? How many people depend on you financially? Would you say that you have a solid emotional support system? Has anyone close to you ever expressed anger, resentment, or disgust for you because of your involvement in the sex industry? Do you feel that you are loved?

Questionnaire List

Drug and Alcohol Use

While working in the sex industry, how many nights per week have you drunk alcohol while at work? How many nights per week have you drunk alcohol outside of your work in the sex industry? While working in the sex industry, have you used any of the following drugs while at work? Check all that apply. Have you used any of the following drugs while you are not working? Check all that apply.

Questionnaire List

Sex Life Outside of Work

Not including clients or customers, about how many men do you engage in sexual acts with in a typical month? Not including clients or customers, about how many women do you engage in sexual acts with in a typical month? Do you use condoms when engaging in sexual acts with customers or clients? Do you use condoms when engaging in sexual acts with individual whom are NOT customers or clients?

Home Morality Done

Basic Info

What is your gender? What is your age? What is your political orientation? Religion (if applicable) Do you regularly engage in relgious practices? Have you used the services of any of the following categories of sex work? Check all that apply.

Back to Start Questionnaire List

Perceptions of Sex Work

Do you believe voluntary sex workers have a lower moral standard than most people? Do you think that sex workers enjoy their job? Do you believe that sex workers have likely been abused in their past? Do you believe that sex work is psychologically damaging for sex workers? Do you have any close friends who are involved in the sex industry? Do you have any family members involved in the sex industry? If you discovered someone close to you has been involved in sex work, would it negatively affect your relationship?

Questionnaire List

Trauma

Have you ever experienced physical abuse? Have you ever experienced sexual abuse? Have you ever experienced emotional abuse? Have you frequently ...?

Questionnaire List

Drug and Alcohol Use

How many nights per week do you typically drink alcohol? Have you ever used any of the following drugs? Check all that apply.

Questionnaire List

Sex Life

What is your relationship status? About how many men do you engage in sexual acts with in a typical month? About how many women do you engage in sexual acts with in a typical month? Do you use condoms when engaging in sexual acts?

Home Morality Home Done

Part II - Morality Questionnaire

When you decide whether something is right or wrong, to what extent are the following considerations relevant to your thinking? Please rate each statement using this scale:

[0] = not at all relevant (This consideration has nothing to do with my judgments of right and wrong)

[1] = not very relevant

[2] = slightly relevant

[3] = somewhat relevant

[4] = very relevant

[5] = extremely relevant (This is one of the most important factors when I judge right and wrong)

1. Whether or not someone suffered emotionally 2. Whether or not some people were treated differently than others

Home Questionnaire List

Morality

3. Whether or not someone’s action showed love for his or her country 4. Whether or not someone showed a lack of respect for authority 5. Whether or not someone violated standards of purity and decency 6. Whether or not someone was good at math 7. Whether or not someone cared for someone weak or vulnerable

Questionnaire List

Morality

8. Whether or not someone acted unfairly 9. Whether or not someone did something to betray his or her group 10. Whether or not someone conformed to the traditions of society 11. Whether or not someone did something disgusting 12. Whether or not someone was cruel

Questionnaire List

Morality

13. Whether or not someone was denied his or her rights 14. Whether or not someone showed a lack of loyalty 15. Whether or not an action caused chaos or disorder 16. Whether or not someone acted in a way that God would approve of

Questionnaire List

Morality

Part 2. Please read the following sentences and indicate your agreement or disagreement:

[0] = strongly disagree

[1] = moderately disagree

[2] = slightly disagree

[3] = slightly agree

[4] = moderately agree

[5] = strongly agree

17. Compassion for those who are suffering is the most crucial virtue. 18. When the government makes laws, the number one principle should be ensuring that everyone is treated fairly.

Questionnaire List

Morality

19. I am proud of my country’s history. 20. Respect for authority is something all children need to learn. 21. People should not do things that are disgusting, even if no one is harmed. 22. It is better to do good than to do bad. 23. One of the worst things a person could do is hurt a defenseless animal.

Questionnaire List

Morality

24. Justice is the most important requirement for a society. 25. People should be loyal to their family members, even when they have done something wrong. 26. Men and women each have different roles to play in society. 27. I would call some acts wrong on the grounds that they are unnatural. 28. It can never be right to kill a human being.

Questionnaire List

Morality

29. I think it’s morally wrong that rich children inherit a lot of money while poor children inherit nothing. 30. It is more important to be a team player than to express oneself. 31. If I were a soldier and disagreed with my commanding officer’s orders, I would obey anyway because that is my duty. 32. Chastity is an important and valuable virtue.

Questionnaire List Done Results

Part 2 - Morality Questionnaire

When you decide whether something is right or wrong, to what extent are the following considerations relevant to your thinking? Please rate each statement using this scale:

[0] = not at all relevant (This consideration has nothing to do with my judgments of right and wrong)

[1] = not very relevant

[2] = slightly relevant

[3] = somewhat relevant

[4] = very relevant

[5] = extremely relevant (This is one of the most important factors when I judge right and wrong)

1. Whether or not someone suffered emotionally 2. Whether or not some people were treated differently than others

Home Questionnaire List

Morality

Questionnaire List

Morality

Questionnaire List

Morality

Questionnaire List

Morality

Part 2. Please read the following sentences and indicate your agreement or disagreement:

[0] = strongly disagree

[1] = moderately disagree

[2] = slightly disagree

[3] = slightly agree

[4] = moderately agree

[5] = strongly agree

17. Compassion for those who are suffering is the most crucial virtue. 18. When the government makes laws, the number one principle should be ensuring that everyone is treated fairly.

Questionnaire List

Morality

Questionnaire List

Morality

Questionnaire List

Morality

Home Done Results

Results Page

	Question	You	Sex Worker	Non-sex Worker
Gender
Age
Political Orientation
Religion
Religious Practice	2	2	2

Results Page

	Question	You	Sex Worker	Non-sex Worker
Gender
Age
Political Orientation
Religion
Religious Practice	2	2	2

Unproven Voluntary Sex Worker Perceptions

Page 1

About

About This Study

Page 2

Informed Consent Agreement

Informed Consent Agreement

Page 3

Select a Questionnaire

Page 4

Basic Information

If you are currently in the country where you engaged in sex work, click the share location button to allow us to record your geolocation, which we will only use as a data point on our survey. Please ignore this request if you prefer not contribute this information.

Sex Worker Page 1

Background

Sex Worker Page 2

Involvement With Sex Work

Sex Worker Page 3

Socioeconomic Status

Sex Worker Page 4

Past Trauma

Sex Worker Page 5

Past Trauma

Sex Worker Page 6

Current Trauma

Sex Worker Page 7

Current Trauma

Sex Worker Page 8

Current Trauma

Sex Worker Page 9

Enjoyment

Sex Worker Page 10

Enjoyment

Sex Worker Page 11

Family and Support System

Sex Work Page 12

Family and Support System

Sex Worker Page 13

Drug and Alcohol Use

Sex Worker Page 21

Sex Life Outside of Work

Sex Worker Page 22

Basic Info

Sex Work Perceptions Page 1

Perceptions of Sex Work

Sex Work Perceptions Page 2

Trauma

Sex Work Perceptions Page 3

Drug and Alcohol Use

Sex Work Perceptions Page 9

Sex Life

Sex Work Perceptions Page 10

Part II - Morality Questionnaire

Sex Worker Morality Page 1

Morality

Sex Worker Morality Page 2

Morality

Sex Worker Morality Page 3

Morality

Sex Worker Morality Page 5

Morality

Sex Worker Morality Page 6

Morality

Sex Worker Morality Page 7

Morality

Sex Worker Morality Page 8

Morality

Sex Worker Morality Page 9

Part 2 - Morality Questionnaire

Sex Work Perceptions Morality 1

Morality

Sex Work Perceptions Morality Page 2

Morality

Sex Work Perceptions Morality Page 3

Morality

Sex Work Perceptions Morality Page 4

Morality

Sex Work Perceptions Morality Page 5

Morality

Sex Work Perceptions Morality Page 6

Morality