This study attempts to empirically investigate the determinants of the supply side of sex work beyond the dichotomy between coerced and freewill participation. It does so by focusing on a very stigmatized and discriminated-against population: transsexual and transgender people. We collected original data on trans people through nonrandom sampling within a study aimed at assessing gender-identity discrimination in Italy. A multivariate analysis of the determinants of falling into sex work confirms that within the trans population, “pull” factors – specifically, prospective income – positively affect the decision to supply sex services. Even more relevant are “push” factors, such as low employability and past experiences of discrimination. The resulting sex-work trap calls for policy initiatives to enhance the employability of marginalized individuals as well as an effective fight against stigma and discrimination in the labor market.
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D’Ippoliti et al. (2016) studied this question.
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