Barriers to Exiting and Factors Contributing to the Cycle of Enter/Exit/Re-Entering Commericial Sex Work

Commercial sex work is a high-risk job and individuals who desire to leave the sex industry find the process of exiting complex and full of obstacles. This qualitative study identified the barriers to exiting and factors contributing to the cycle of enter/exit/re-entering commercial sex work. This study found barriers in the individual, social, relational, and structural domains. The results validated the use of the polymorphous paradigm to comprehend the challenges of exit and factors that reinforce the cycle of enter/exit/re-entering the industry. The expanded knowledge from this study yielded insight for service providers to develop appropriate programs and services. In addition, the study results challenged the faith community’s response to individuals engaged in the commercial sex industry.