At Stepping Stone the majority of the individuals who access our programs and services are street based survival workers. Survival Sex is defined as a state in which an individual lacks the opportunity to refuse work.

Consequently a survival sex environment is one that minimizes or eliminates a workers right to refuse work and otherwise imposes emotional, financial or psychological pressure forcing the surrender of will. Survival sex workers have less control over their working conditions due to issues such as poverty and criminalization.

The term sex work acknowledges that sex work is still work. While all sex workers would benefit from better working conditions, the term sex work acknowledges that for some, such as street based survival sex workers, the job is more problematic than it is for others.

Above all, the usual terminology used to refer to sex work – such as prostitution – is fluid with meanings and overtones that reflect dominant society’s agendas rather than any reality experienced by sex workers themselves.