Abstract

Many females engaged in sex work are mothers, often experiencing poverty, violence, marginalization, and psychological distress, factors also found to affect parental bonds. However, little is known about how this context impacts the bonding process. Given the ubiquity of sex work across geographical territories, understanding the relationship it has with mother-child bonding is an important international consideration in providing healthcare for sex working mothers and their children. Therefore, in this study we sought to explore women’s experiences of bonding with their children in the context of sex work. We interviewed six women in the UK who were sex working during the first two years of their child’s life about their bonding experiences and analyzed transcripts using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. We identified four themes were identified: (1) the complex process of bonding; (2) the role of powerlessness on bonding; (3) the powerful impact of receiving help, and (4) new perspectives of the body and sex work following motherhood. Findings contribute to the research literature on bonding by emphasizing the value of supportive care and the importance of social context, indicating specific factors to inform psychological support among sex working women.

摘要

许多从事性工作的女性都是母亲，她们经常经历贫困、暴力、边缘化和心理困扰，这些因素也被发现会影响父母之间的关系。然而，关于这种情况如何影响粘合过程知之甚少。鉴于性工作在地理区域内无处不在，了解它与母子关系的关系是为性工作母亲及其子女提供医疗保健的重要国际考虑因素。因此，在这项研究中，我们试图探索女性在性工作背景下与孩子建立联系的经历。我们采访了六名在孩子出生后头两年从事性工作的英国女性，了解她们的亲密经历，并使用解释性现象学分析分析了成绩单。我们确定了四个主题：（1）复杂的粘合过程；（2）无力对粘合的作用；(3) 接受帮助的强大影响，以及 (4) 孕产后身体和性工作的新视角。通过强调支持性护理的价值和社会背景的重要性，研究结果有助于建立联系的研究文献，指出了为性工作者提供心理支持的具体因素。