---
title: "How I Became an Advocate for Sex Workers' Rights"
date: 2024-11-22T18:46:00-05:00
author: Jonese Austin
canonical_url: "https://ourbodiesourselves.org/health-info/how-i-became-an-advocate-for-sex-workers-rights"
section: Resources
---
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[Health & Sexuality Info](/health-info)# How I Became an Advocate for Sex Workers' Rights

African feminist and writer Nana Darkoa Sekyiamah discusses the evolution of her views on sex work. Although she grew up in a patriarchal society, she began to question efforts to control women’s choices around their bodies and sexualities. Yet she still assumed that sex workers "had no choice but to do sex work."

While attending an international AIDS conference in 2010, she asked: “Why would anyone choose to do sex work?” The response of panelists and others to her question began her journey of learning more about sex work. Through engaging resources, attending events, and listening to the stories of sex workers, she came to understand that sex work can be "a logical choice.”

Because sex work is criminalized, sex workers often face violence at the hands of police. Stigma, including that from feminists, contributes to the violence and criminalization. This is why we must fight for sex workers’ rights and the decriminalization of sex work.

Rather than judge, she invites feminists to educate ourselves and to see feminism and sex workers’ rights as intertwined.

> Sadly, the issue of sex workers’ rights continues to be a point of tension for the global feminist movement, and there are too many feminists who today feel how I felt ten years ago. All I can encourage those feminists to do is to open their hearts and minds, and to listen to sex workers. It is way past the time for all feminists to recognise that advocating for sex workers’ rights is a fundamental contribution towards the battle to end violence against women and girls.

[Read the full article ](https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/5050/how-i-became-an-advocate-for-sex-workers-rights/)

SOURCE: openDemocracy • AUTHOR: Nana Darkoa Sekyiamah • LAST UPDATED: January 4, 2021

![A protest. Centered is a large purple sign that says, "Decriminalize Sex Worker Safety First" in hot pink and highlighter green. The sign is held by 3 women. Behind are people holding other signs that read: "Sex Work is Work" and "Stop Police Raids. Consenting Sex is Not a Crime!" Some people standing around are holding red umbrellas.](data:image/png;base64,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) "[SW\_PARLIAMENT\_PROTEST\_080318\_069](https://www.flickr.com/photos/166033858@N08/43661663752)" by juno mac/Flickr [CC BY-NC-ND 2.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/)

![](/assets/img/monogram.webp)Topics

- [ gender-based violence](https://ourbodiesourselves.org/subject-area/gender-based-violence)
- [criminal legal system](https://ourbodiesourselves.org/tags/criminal-legal-system)
- [sex work](https://ourbodiesourselves.org/tags/sex-work)
- [feminism](https://ourbodiesourselves.org/tags/feminism)
- [patriarchy](https://ourbodiesourselves.org/tags/patriarchy)

![](/assets/img/monogram.webp)### *Why You Can* **Trust Us** 

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[read more](https://ourbodiesourselves.org/why-you-can-trust-us)

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##### More to Explore

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## Sex Work: The Basics

A basic primer on what sex work is, who sex workers are, why sex workers engage in sex work, how sex work differs from trafficking, and more.

![A chart consisting of four circles in yellow, green, and blue with the following words: "sex work stigma," "victim blaming," "violence," and "dehumanization". There are arrows between each circle.](data:image/png;base64,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)

A basic primer on what sex work is, who sex workers are, why sex workers engage in sex work, how sex work differs from trafficking, and more.](https://ourbodiesourselves.org/health-info/sex-work-the-basics)

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An interview with past Our Bodies Ourselves content expert Kate D'Adamo in which they talk about both sex work organizing and abortion rights/reproductive justice](https://ourbodiesourselves.org/health-info/organize-like-a-sex-worker-learning-from-worker-and-organizer-kate-adamo)

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## This Is How Sex Workers Win: Organizing Around Sex Workers' Rights

This article recounts sex worker activism in recent years, particularly the demand that we recognize “sex work is work.”

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This article recounts sex worker activism in recent years, particularly the demand that we recognize “sex work is work.”](https://ourbodiesourselves.org/health-info/this-is-how-sex-workers-win-organizing-around-sex-workers-rights)

[ResourcesRead

## A Report on Sexual Violence against Indigenous Women in the US

The Maze of Injustice report examines sexual violence against Indigenous women in the United States and identifies multiple systemic barriers to justice.

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The Maze of Injustice report examines sexual violence against Indigenous women in the United States and identifies multiple systemic barriers to justice.](https://ourbodiesourselves.org/health-info/a-report-on-sexual-violence-against-indigenous-women-in-the-us)

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This article imagines what accountability for sexual abuse would look like in a sex-positive, anti-carceral world.

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This article imagines what accountability for sexual abuse would look like in a sex-positive, anti-carceral world.](https://ourbodiesourselves.org/health-info/a-sex-positive-and-transformative-justice-approach-to-metoo)

[ResourcesRead

## Abortion Decriminalization and the Struggle against Policing and Criminalization

This policy brief examines the state surveillance of abortion access and the growing criminalization of pregnant people, parents, and providers.

![Pexels servet photograph 11164911 scaled jpg](data:image/png;base64,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)

This policy brief examines the state surveillance of abortion access and the growing criminalization of pregnant people, parents, and providers.](https://ourbodiesourselves.org/health-info/abortion-decriminalization-and-the-struggle-against-policing-and-criminalization)

[ResourcesRead

## Abortion Rights for Immigrant Survivors

This document outlines what attorneys and advocates need to know as they counsel people who are maneuvering the complex intersection of abortion access, the immigration system, and the criminal legal system.

![asian-woman-behind-gate](data:image/png;base64,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)

This document outlines what attorneys and advocates need to know as they counsel people who are maneuvering the complex intersection of abortion access, the immigration system, and the criminal legal system.](https://ourbodiesourselves.org/health-info/abortion-rights-for-immigrant-survivors)

[ResourcesRead

## An Analysis: Manifestations and Perpetuation of Gender-Based Violence

The Human Rights Advocacy and Research Foundation analyzes some of the reasons gender-based violence continues.

![Pexels rodnae productions silence is violence scaled jpg](data:image/png;base64,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)

The Human Rights Advocacy and Research Foundation analyzes some of the reasons gender-based violence continues.](https://ourbodiesourselves.org/health-info/an-analysis-manifestations-and-perpetuation-of-gender-based-violence)