Mothers who engage in sex work face a unique set of challenges that are often overlooked by society. These women commonly experience violence, stigma, marginalization, and separation from their families and society. Stigma, in particular, limits their access to healthcare and social services, and they report multiple physical and mental health symptoms and conditions that often go unaddressed. Despite facing such maltreatment, these mothers continually point to their work as a means to provide better lives for their children. In doing so, they routinely prioritize the needs of their children above their own, even at the cost of their own health and safety. Sex-working mothers are more likely to participate in unsafe sex and related high-risk behaviors when they have the financial responsibility to provide for their children and families. They are also more likely to prioritize making money over addressing their own health-related concerns or accessing medical care when needed.

Previous research has shown that some sex-working mothers are motivated by aspirations that their children will have better lives, become educated and employed, and grow their families. To support these goals, mothers frequently use their earnings to provide for their children’s education in addition to their basic survival needs. Although society often labels sex-working mothers as “bad” because of their vocation, their actions help improve the likelihood that their children will become formally educated and economically independent.

Mothers who engage in sex work face a myriad of challenges that are often overlooked by society. These women prioritize the needs of their children above their own, even at the cost of their own health and safety. It is essential that we understand their unique experiences and advocate for targeted policies and programs that provide culturally sensitive and effective health and social services to meet their needs.Unfortunately, much of the research on sex work around the world has focused on gender-based violence and HIV prevalence, intervention, and prevention. There is a significant gap in our understanding of the unique experiences of sex workers who are also mothers. More data is essential to advocate for targeted policies and programs that provide culturally sensitive and effective health and social services to meet the needs of sex workers and their children.  Only then can we begin to break down the stigma surrounding sex work and support these mothers in their efforts to provide better lives for their families.