Why Shift?
We named the program Shift because
we wanted to see a Shift in:
- language used in the
community and by media about the sex trade
- quality of life
for sex trade workers
- perceptions
people have about sex trade work in
- ideas and attitudes
- safety for workers
- the way sex workers
view themselves and are viewed by others
Sex Work
We use the term sex work and sex worker as an umbrella term for any person involved in the sex trade industry. This includes people who exchange sex for money or other goods, and may work as escorts, masseuses, dancers, street level workers, phone and internet sex workers, etc.
Shift recognizes that for many people sex work is work and it should be treated as a form of employment. Historical titles like prostitute have a negative association and fail to acknowledge that a person working in the sex trade is just that, a person!
Harm Reduction
Harm Reduction recognizes that with most activities
in life there are potential dangers and risks, but for many people abstaining
from these activities is not possible. Harm reduction works to reduce the risks
associated with these activities by educating and providing resources. Harm
reduction tools include: providing safer sex supplies, educating about STI’s
(sexually transmitted infections), providing clean needles, etc.
