“I’m Going to Work, but It Is Survival, Too” A Unique Qualitative Study of Occupational Mental Health and Wellbeing Among Women Sex Workers in Baltimore, Maryland

“I’m Going to Work, but It Is Survival, Too” A Unique Qualitative Study of Occupational Mental Health and Wellbeing Among Women Sex Workers in Baltimore, Maryland

Sex workers

Mahima Krishnamoorthi, Samantha Grace Alarcon Basurto, Susan Sherman, Catherine Tomko

Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine

Vol. 67

No. 9

2025

American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine

Journal article

English

America

Restricted Access

Objective The Surgeon General released the Framework for Mental Health and Well-being in the Workplace, a call to attention for industry leaders. In this study, we applied this framework to street-based women sex workers (WSW) to understand their mental health outcomes. Methods Fourteen WSW in Baltimore, Maryland, completed structured qualitative interviews to characterize occupational environment in street-based sex work and mental health outcomes. Results WSW expressed workplace desires shared by those in the traditional workforce, such as flexibility, sense of belonging, safety and security. Factors like violence, lack of a strong support network, and enduring social stigma were highlighted as occupational barriers to positive mental health. Conclusions This study is the first to use the Surgeon General’s Framework for Mental Health and Well-being in the Workplace to incorporate the perspectives of street-based WSW.

Shaunda King