Christopher Hobson's Blog - Posts Tagged "screening"
Prostitution in Fact and Fiction
Written by --Christopher Hobson & Grace Middelton 10/15/2022
It’s often said prostitution is the oldest industry in the world, and one that’s still going strong today. It's estimated there are 42 million sex workers globally, with 1 million of those residing in the US.
But the risks associated with this work are well-documented, and it’s easy to wonder why anyone would endanger themselves in this way. This question has been raised within author Christopher Hobson’s book Freakland City: A Post-Apocalyptic Mutant Masquerade, as his character Veronica is exposed to a life-altering virus as a result of prostitution. As she comes to terms with this disease, her husband asks what could be ‘more valuable than your life?’. But in most cases, sex work was not a choice, but a necessity: for workers, prostitution is what financially supports them, their families and their lifestyles.
Hobson’s work speaks to a very real aspect of prostitution, where exposure to sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) comes with the job. Data shows sex workers are between 5 to 60 times more likely to test positive for an STD than the general population, enabled by risky sexual practices, a lack of screening and accessibility to contraception, as well as high rates of intravenous drug use. But it doesn’t need to be this way.
Decriminalizing sex work would help make it safer for everyone, creating greater transparency and allowing sex workers to make healthcare choices they couldn’t previously make. Legalization would help to reduce stigmatization associated with prostitution, encouraging routine STD testing. Early detection helps with the management and treatment of STDs, while also preventing them from spreading further. Legalization can also empower sex workers to prioritize their own safety, enforcing condom use and thus reducing the rate of risky sexual practices. This, alongside support for drug addiction and sexual violence, has proven to reduce rape and assault offences, lower rates of STD transmission and improve public health overall.
Sex work exists whether we like it or not, but it doesn’t need to be dangerous. The least we can do is advocate for the protection of those who find themselves in this position by equipping them with the knowledge, services, and support not currently offered.
It’s often said prostitution is the oldest industry in the world, and one that’s still going strong today. It's estimated there are 42 million sex workers globally, with 1 million of those residing in the US.
But the risks associated with this work are well-documented, and it’s easy to wonder why anyone would endanger themselves in this way. This question has been raised within author Christopher Hobson’s book Freakland City: A Post-Apocalyptic Mutant Masquerade, as his character Veronica is exposed to a life-altering virus as a result of prostitution. As she comes to terms with this disease, her husband asks what could be ‘more valuable than your life?’. But in most cases, sex work was not a choice, but a necessity: for workers, prostitution is what financially supports them, their families and their lifestyles.
Hobson’s work speaks to a very real aspect of prostitution, where exposure to sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) comes with the job. Data shows sex workers are between 5 to 60 times more likely to test positive for an STD than the general population, enabled by risky sexual practices, a lack of screening and accessibility to contraception, as well as high rates of intravenous drug use. But it doesn’t need to be this way.
Decriminalizing sex work would help make it safer for everyone, creating greater transparency and allowing sex workers to make healthcare choices they couldn’t previously make. Legalization would help to reduce stigmatization associated with prostitution, encouraging routine STD testing. Early detection helps with the management and treatment of STDs, while also preventing them from spreading further. Legalization can also empower sex workers to prioritize their own safety, enforcing condom use and thus reducing the rate of risky sexual practices. This, alongside support for drug addiction and sexual violence, has proven to reduce rape and assault offences, lower rates of STD transmission and improve public health overall.
Sex work exists whether we like it or not, but it doesn’t need to be dangerous. The least we can do is advocate for the protection of those who find themselves in this position by equipping them with the knowledge, services, and support not currently offered.
