Surviving

Home: Survivors: For Sex Workers: The Power Book

Off the job

Off the job people who know you do sex work may want to exploit you because of it. If someone sexually abuses you or threatens to tell the Department of Immigration that you're working in Australia illegally, contact RhED for information, support or assistance. There are laws to protect against:

• sexual harassment;
• the threat of violence, including sexual violence, by a client, ex-client, partner, ex-partner. Sexual assault is sexual assault even if you're living with or married to the person who assaults you;
• stalking by a client, ex-client, partner, ex-partner;
• blackmail or unreasonable demands with threat if someone threatens to expose you as a sex worker unless they get free services. (You might want to remind them that sex work is not illegal in Victoria.) There are also laws to protect your privacy. These rights and protections are the same whether you are sex working or not! You are entitled to them!

WHEN YOUR BACK'S AGAINST THE WALL - TAKE FLIGHT!

Don't worry about the money. Get out of there as soon as you have a doubt about him.

TURN NOISE INTO A WEAPON!

Yell, scream, bang on walls, let off a pocket alarm - whatever! Try to let someone else know you're under attack.

TRUST YOUR SURVIVAL INSTINCTS!

Do what you can, don't give yourself a hard time. Know that you will do what you can. Stay alive.

TAKE NOTE!

Anything (that's anything!) about him that might become important in a description later - his size, clothes, scars, tattoos, car, the way he says something. Sex workers make excellent witnesses because they're good on detail! Try to capture that detail - and a bit of his DNA!

KEEP CLEAR ABOUT WHO YOU ARE!

Know that you have strengths and strategies that will see you through to survival! Be clear that you are strong. Be clear that your body belongs to you!

GET SAFE!

Get yourself to a person or a place of safety.

Return to top

Sponsor

Resourcing Health and Education

Disclaimer Copyright Updated: 24 Sep 2009