Community undergoes transformation. - Prostitution is shifting towards underground operations.
Consultation centers in the Rhineland-Palatinate region of Germany are having a tough time connecting with women who work in the sex industry. As per responses received by the Women's Ministry in Mainz, these centers have witnessed a growing trend toward private, internet-based platforms where sex workers can find clients. The closure of brothels due to the pandemic has increased the demand for online services, making it even harder for counseling centers to get in touch with the women.
Due to the pandemic's impact on traditional brothels, many sex workers have been forced to continue their work in "invisible areas" to maintain their livelihoods. The ministry also highlighted that there have been an overwhelming number of offers on internet portals now. Those who were not already working illegally before the pandemic have had no choice but to join ranks with others who had been doing so for years.
Online-based sex work is getting more common
This trend poses a huge challenge for these counseling centers, as making consistent contact with the women has become practically impossible. Lena Günzel, a councilor at the counseling center for people in prostitution in Ludwigshafen, states that these women usually participate in "Online-Streetwork." On the platforms, sex workers advertise their services and, in turn, receive direct messages via WhatsApp. Günzel noted that the problem intensifies as these women often switch locations, making long-term counseling a challenge.
Nicole Schulze, a former board member of the Professional Association for Erotic and Sexual Services, shares the same sentiment. She feels that prostitution criminalization is one of the root causes of this trend, stating that the 2017 Prostitution Act may have been well-intended but was unsuccessful. The law required workers to register, have a prostitute's permit, and pass health inspections. According to Schulze, many sex workers were fearful of their data being revealed and being judged by their family members.
The pandemic has only exacerbated the situation by forcing these women into more secretive modes of working. So, in spite of the prohibition of legal sex work, they still had to continue, with many learning how to survive by themselves and realizing the importance of online portals to stay afloat. Advertisements on these platforms have also become very expensive, leading to a situation Schulze refers to as "exploitation."
A high-profile story of a violent forced prostitution case out of Koblenz, in which a woman was killed, also made headlines recently. The perpetrators, a woman and a man, were given a life sentence for forcing a woman they were living with to become a prostitute and murdering her. Violence and humiliation were allegedly used to force the victim into sexual services for clients.
Though not every situation faced by these women is as severe, they still grapple with issues like social benefits, dealing with authorities, tax questions, questions about insurance, and health problems, Günzel said. The issue of stigma and touching on taboo topics with government agencies and medical professionals is a prominent one. When dealing with complicated tax issues, for instance, many women find themselves without the proper advice to help them navigate the situation better.
The counseling center in Ludwigshafen does not pressure its clients to quit the sex industry, Günzel added, emphasizing that they are not involved in any such activities. However, if it's clear that a woman is struggling, they open up the possibility of discussing support and rehabilitation programs to help them exit the industry. Unfortunately, there is a lack of suitable services in the region, such as housing for women willing to leave the life of a sex worker. With state funding for such services being minimal, organizations like Günzel's can barely provide help.
Günzel does not advocate for an outright ban on sex work, as it would push women into illegal practices even more.
Sex workers need more support
With more women working in the online sex industry, addressing concerns such as jobless claims from women striving to work legally post-pandemic, navigating government offices, and dealing with the stigma that comes with sex work will be essential. Organizations that work toward offering advice and support to sex workers should have adequate funding to accommodate the increase in women seeking their services, Schulze added.
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