8 Stigma Slides 1 xp 25

Stigma, Burnout, and Positive Marginality among Escorts

• Navigating the emotional aspects of performing sex work in a whorephobic and homophobic society.

Presentation Overview

• Presenters: Dr. Juline Koken and Dr. David Bimbi

• Focus: Stigma, burnout, and positive marginality among escorts.

• Methods: Draws from "Classified Project" and "Lady Classified Project".

Stigma

Concealable Stigma and its Management

• Prostitution/Whore Taboo: Sex work is highly stigmatized; it constitutes a concealable stigma.

• Employing stigma management strategies to minimize personal impact.

• Information Management Strategies:

  • Passing: Hiding one’s identity as a sex worker.

  • Covering: Downplaying or disguising the stigma.

  • Coming Out: Disclosing identity to select individuals. (Goffman, 1963)

Coping Strategies Related to Stigma

Coping Mechanisms

• Threat of being labeled impacts coping strategies among escorts.

• Types of Coping:

• Avoidance Coping: Trying to evade the stigma or its consequences.

• Approach Coping: Actively dealing with the stigma through engagement.

• Impacts on Mental Health:

• Short-term and long-term effects.

• Evidence shows negative health consequences linked with concealable stigmas (Frable et al., 1998; Link & Phelan, 2006).

The Lady Classified Study (Koken et al)

Study Focus

• Qualitative analysis of independent women escorts’ coping strategies regarding stigma.

• Burnout levels assessed using scales; relationships examined.

Methods of Data Collection

• Participants: Independent escorts recruited through online advertisements, maintaining anonymity.

• Data Gathered:

• Semi-structured interviews on stigma management in personal lives.

• Brief computer survey covering demographics and burnout scale.

• Coding and data analysis conducted with input from sex workers.

Qualitative Coping Themes

• Strategies employed to manage stigma:

• Seeking friendships with fellow escorts.

• Disclosure to select friends/family.

• Educating others about sex work to counter stereotypes.

• Engaging in 'passing' or going ‘back into the closet’.

• Social Isolation as a coping strategy.

Coping Themes Detailed

Approach Coping

• Leads to social support. Example quote reflecting openness about work and desire for support.

Avoidance Coping

• Passing: Maintaining secrecy fearing judgment.

• Going Back into the Closet: Concealing employment from partners.

• Social Isolation: Withdrawal due to fear of being found out and shame about work.

Discussion on Future Directions of Stigma Management

• Desire for a shift in societal perceptions regarding sex work.

• Advocates for decriminalization rather than legalization; importance of societal acceptance.

Key Takeaway Points

• Awareness of stigma: All women in the sample displayed awareness; diverse stigma management practices.

• Connections with other sex workers varied, with some remaining silent about their work.

• Duration of sex work not related to coping strategy or income.

• Negative experiences in disclosure often led to silence among participants.

• Those openly disclosing attributed it to a desire for education and destigmatization.

Emotional Labour and Burnout

Emotional Labour in Sex Work

• Defined as the expected emotional engagement with clients; not just physical intimacy.

• Two forms of emotional labour: deep acting and surface acting.

• Emotional labour linked to work-related burnout risks.

Coping Strategies in Sex Work

Types of Coping Strategies

• Emphasizes stress management through coping mechanisms:

• Avoidance coping and approach coping affecting mental health outcomes.

Definition of Burnout

• Burnout as a syndrome from chronic job stress, including:

• Emotional exhaustion

• Depersonalization

• Decreased personal competency feelings.

Burnout in Sex Work Context

• Industry-specific factors influencing burnout: workload, autonomy (Maslach et al., 2001).

• Prior study highlighted comparable burnout rates of sex workers to nurses (Vanwesenbeeck, 2005).

Financial Disparities in Escorting

• Average hourly rates of escorts by race:

  • White women: $500+

  • Black women: $400+

  • Variability among Asian women.

Burnout Scores Results

• Burnout levels categorized:

  • Low (0-16), Moderate (17-26), High (27-48).

  • Sample percentages: High burnout (23%), Moderate (39%), Low (38%).

Perception of Autonomy in Escorting

• Focus on independent escorts assumed higher autonomy levels in job selection and earnings.

Marketing Approaches of Escorts

• Low emotional exhaustion linked to emphasizing positive social relationships with clients.

• High burnout led to diminished effort in marketing and ‘work self.’

Emotional Health in Relation to Burnout

Coping Mechanisms of High vs. Low Burnout

• Low Burnout: Empathy and emotional congruence present.

• High Burnout: Emotional dissonance visible; example of physical discomfort with client interactions.

Racial Dynamics in Burnout

• Noted disparities in burnout and emotional exhaustion related to race:

  • Black women expressed distinct challenges within the profession and reported higher emotional exhaustion than white counterparts.

  • White women recognized their racial privilege in managing stigma and work environments.

Takeaway Points on Burnout and Emotional Work

• Less evidence of traditional "working identity" among participants.

• Low burnout women emphasized authenticity; high burnout women showed greater disconnection from their work.

• Impact of race, support networks, and work orientation demonstrated as crucial to burnout experiences.

Areas for Future Research

• Need for qualitative research focusing on clients’ perspectives regarding escorts they hire.

• Post SESTA/FOSTA implications for escorting’s safety and accessibility highlighted as critical for future study.

Positive Marginality

Transitioning from Stigma to Pride

• Positive resistance against stigma through open identification within marginalized groups.

The Classified Project Overview

• Historic significance of studying Internet-based male escorts, established in 2000-2001 by David Bimbi.

Understanding Positive Marginality

• Individuals embracing stigmas can exhibit pride and resistance, redefining societal perceptions.

Research Methodologies for Male Escorts

• Participant demographics and methodologies outlined, focusing on qualitative interviews and participant compensation.

Perspectives on Sex Work and Societal Acceptance

• Interviewed men expressed awareness of stigma but actively incorporated pride into their identities as sex workers.

Alternative Norms within Subcultures

• Discussion of values placed on sex work in broader LGBTQ+ and S&M communities.

Professionalism in Sex Work

• Many male escorts described their work as deliberate and professional, highlighting integrity.

Resistance to Heteronormativity

• Men observed their work as a means of resisting societal expectations related to heterosexuality.

Providing Comfort for Vulnerable Populations

• Respondents highlighted the emotional support provided to clients grappling with their sexual identities.

Redefining Relationship Norms

• Some escorts discuss broader ideas of relationships that deviate from conventional norms.

Pride and Altruism in Sex Work

• Reframing sex work as a therapeutic service rather than degradation; embracing a 'sexual humanitarian' identity.

Political Perspectives and Activism

• Advocacy for decriminalization of sex work, discussion about political movement from within the community.

Connecting Gay Oppression with Sex Worker Rights

• Historical context connecting gay rights activism with the push for sex workers’ rights.

Social Acceptance within the Gay Community

• Increased acceptance of sex work within circles of LGBTQ+ individuals; challenging preconceived notions of stigma.

Final Takeaway Points on Positive Marginality

• Narratives suggest that not all male escorts have positive perceptions about their work.

• Positively marginal escorts identified with wider movements for sexual liberation and societal acceptance.

Future Directions in Research

• Need for expanding research horizons, particularly in understanding societal attitudes post-legal changes affecting sex work.

Conclusion

• Thank you for attending the presentation!