Digital sex workers' experiences in the COVID-19 pandemic post FOSTA/SESTA

Sex work, practiced by an estimated 42 million sex workers operating worldwide, is skilled labor deserving of rights and dignity, (Barwulor et al., 2021). Sex work is a practical way to generate income and access resources for those facing marginalization, oppression, and limited socioeconomic supports (Dewey & St. Germain, 2014; Orchard et al., 2021). In 2018, the United States Congress passed H.R. 1865 the Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act (FOSTA) and S. 1693 Stop Enabling Sex Trafficking Act (SESTA). The laws removed protections within the Communications Decency Act that previously shielded platforms from being liable for their users’ illegal content. By conflating sex work with sex trafficking, the policies restricted and banned digital sex workers. While many laborers moved online in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, sex workers faced unique challenges adapting to digital work. Little is known about sex workers’ experiences and mental health concerns during the pandemic, particularly as online sex work faced prohibitive legislation. I used psychology of work theory (PWT) and the minority stress model (MSM) to examine qualitatively the experiences of 10 online sex workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Using narrative inquiry methodology and participant action research, I listened to their firsthand accounts and examined the extent to which minority stress, criminalization, and oppression impacted participants’ access to decent work as it related to their mental health to best inform mental health clinicians working with this population. I conducted semi-structured virtual interviews and analyzed transcript data using my theoretical frameworks and supplemental theories. I engaged in reflexivity and member checking in which participants offered feedback regarding my interview questions and preliminary analyses as additional forms of data. These opportunities were meant to empower participants and represent their experiences in the creation of this knowledge. Findings highlight participants’ experiences of empowerment, stigma, and changes to their work due to COVID-19 and FOSTA/SESTA, including increased surveillance, concerns for health, and need for safety through community. Findings of this study can be used to practice affirming mental healthcare, as well as advocate for decriminalization of sex work and the repeal of FOSTA/SESTA.