Amee Barber

Escort Work and Motherhood: Case Studies of Edmonton and Toronto, Canada Amee Barber

This book examines the complex relationship that exists between lone motherhood and sex work. Utilizing interviews with fifteen independent escort workers from Edmonton and Toronto, the author demonstrates the need for policy makers to recognize the different environmental contexts of mothers and the uniqueness of individual experiences in order to produce more targeted and effective policy. The interviewees reported leading a double life characterized by shame, fear, stigmatization and discrimination. It was discovered that the double life which many of these women live is not only stressful but also a serious impediment to their ability to effectively parent. The author argues that it is the current legal status of sex work which poses barriers to these women, and asserts that decriminalization and the recognition of sex worker as work will grant these women access to the support that other working mothers may have. Beyond decriminalization, the author makes a series of recommendations that were based on the needs expressed throughout the interviews. The implementation of these recommendations could be hastened by decriminalization and a strong sex workers union.