Sex Work, Migration, HIV and Trafficking: Chinese and other Migrant Sex Workers in Australia Elena Jeffreys and Roberta Perkins Introduction This paper compares data on the experiences of 43 migrant sex workers of Chinese language background and 29 sex workers of English language background who migrated for sex work, gathered as part of a broader research project on Chinese sex-worker transnational migration.
Significantly, the results demonstrate little differences between sex workers whose language background is Chinese [1] and those whose language background is English. Moreover, the use of HIV prevention measures by sex workers of Chinese language background is not demonstratively different to that of sex workers of English language background in Australia.
No sex-worker participants of Chinese language background were coerced into coming to Australia, but rather freely chose to travel to Australia to engage in sex work, and most do not conform to the popular image of sex slaves.
Participants were surveyed about their work experience, information channels and opinion of the criminal justice systems and laws in Australia. The research aimed to answer the following questions: Is a migrant sex worker more or less likely to use condoms in their work in Australia? Is a migrant sex worker more or less likely to experience trafficking-like work conditions? Is trafficking more likely to happen to a Chinese language background sex worker in Australia than it is to other sex workers migrating within or from Australia?
While the research had a small sample size, we argue that it makes an important contribution to existing research on HIV and trafficking in Australia. Sex work laws in Australia Australia is unique in having a diversity of sex work legislation across the various states and territories, ranging from decriminalised to criminalised. Toleration operates in Western Australia, where criminalising legislation has not been implemented by the police for some time.
