title: Negotiating Violence in the Context of Transphobia and Criminalization: The Experiences of Trans Sex Workers in Vancouver, Canada.
abstract: A growing body of international evidence suggests that sex workers face a disproportionate burden of violence, with significant variations across social, cultural, and economic contexts. Research on trans sex workers has documented high incidents of violence; however, investigations into the relationships between violence and social-structural contexts are limited. Therefore, the objective of this study was to qualitatively examine how social-structural contexts shape trans sex workers' experiences of violence. In-depth semistructured interviews were conducted with 33 trans sex workers in Vancouver, Canada, between June 2012 and May 2013. Three themes emerged that illustrated how social-structural contexts of transphobia and criminalization shaped violent experiences: (a) transphobic violence, (b) clients' discovery of participants' gender identity, and (c) negative police responses to experiences of violence. The findings demonstrate the need for shifts in sex work laws and culturally relevant antistigma programs and policies to address transphobia.
authors.affiliation: University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
authors.forename: Tara
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lyons
authors.affiliation: University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Krüsi
authors.affiliation: Providing Alternatives, Counselling & Education (PACE) Society, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
authors.forename: Leslie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pierre
authors.affiliation: University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kerr
authors.affiliation: Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada.
authors.forename: Will
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Small
authors.affiliation: University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada gshi@cfenet.ubc.ca.
authors.forename: Kate
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shannon
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016495:Police / Q000523:psychology; D011287:Prejudice / Q000523:psychology; D036301:Qualitative Research; D060386:Sex Workers / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D057545:Social Stigma; D063106:Transgender Persons / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014754:Violence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female
keywords: Vancouver; criminalization; interviews; participatory analysis; police; qualitative; sex work; structural violence; transgender; violence