| Little information is available documenting the obstacles sex workers face when reporting intimate partner violence to law enforcement and health care agencies. The purpose of this study was to gain an in-depth understanding of the perceived needs, use, and experiences among female sex workers seeking law enforcement and healthcare services when experiencing intimate partner violence in San Francisco. An additional goal of this study was to explore the manner in which sex workers cope and reconcile with intimate partner violence when legal and healthcare services are not an option. Through outreach and community based participatory research, the main researcher conducted interviews with 13 participants who did not consider intimate partners as pimps or clients. The qualitative findings highlight six themes that convey both the challenges faced by sex workers as well as the resilience they display in spite of such adversity. These results extend current scholarship on sex workers' relationships and can better inform how law enforcement officers and healthcare providers work with this vulnerable population. |
