The Lived Experiences of Sex Workers in South Africa: An Existential Phenomenological Exploration

We explored the lived experiences of sex workers in South Africa by employing a phenomenological methodology. Five women between the ages of 34 and 48 years who were/are involved in this industry were interviewed between January and March 2008. Through the use of thematic analysis four common themes in their experiences were identified and are elucidated in this article. These themes are: (a) pervasive experiences of abuse and neglect during childhood, (b) entry into sex work, (c) life as a sex worker and (d) trauma and resilience. The lived experiences of the participants were integrated with the literature in order to create a contextualised picture and a deeper understanding of the experience of a sex worker, as well as to assist informing the debate on sex work in South Africa.