About This Project
In 2004, a group of sex workers came together in partnership with Simon Fraser University in the hope of discovering the history of sex work—our history—in the city of Vancouver. How have sex workers contributed to Vancouver’s founding, growth, and character? In recent years, the sex workers’ civil rights movement has become an international effort, and sex workers all over the world are demanding human rights and labour standards. As in all civil rights movements, we need to understand our history in order to understand our place in the community.
One of many collages from the installation
The foundation for positive change is to have pride in ourselves and the accomplishments of the sex workers before us. We wanted to understand the factors which came to bear on the quality of life for sex workers throughout the life of our city. So, we investigated the history of the city itself, its economic history, the history of poverty, of medicine, of laws and enforcement, of the women’s movement (in particular, women’s suffrage), of the sex workers’ rights movement, of arts and fashion, and the history of “organized crime”—all of which have shaped what we call “our community.” Looking at these various factors, we began to see our place in the larger community, the make- up of our traditional neighbourhoods, and how the situation of today has become as dangerous as it is. Throughout the history of our city, sex workers have been affected by many of the same things as other community members. Major world events touch us all, as do local issues specifi c to Vancouver and the popular opinion of Vancouverites. One thing is clear: sex workers have always been and remain to this day an integral part of our city and have contributed greatly to its colour, diversity, and personality!
This project was a journey for us, and we’d like to thank everyone who helped along the way and who have taken the time to consider our findings.
Project Sponsors
