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Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Becoming a Mother in the Context of Sex Work
T2 - Women's Experiences of Bonding with their Children
AU - Elsdon, Ruth
AU - O'Shaughnessy, Ruth
AU - Hodge, Suzanne
AU - Murray, Craig
PY - 2022/4/30
Y1 - 2022/4/30
N2 - Many females engaged in sex work are mothers, often experiencing poverty, violence, marginalization, and psychological distress, factors also found to affect parental bonds. However, little is known about how this context impacts the bonding process. Given the ubiquity of sex work across geographical territories, understanding the relationship it has with mother-child bonding is an important international consideration in providing health care for sex working mothers and their children. Therefore, in this study we sought to explore women’s experiences of bonding with their children in the context of sex work. We interviewed six women in the UK who were sex working during the first two years of their child’s life about their bonding experiences and analysed transcripts using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. We identified four themes were identified: (1) the complex process of bonding; (2) the role of powerlessness on bonding; (3) the powerful impact of receiving help, and (4) new perspectives of the body and sex work following motherhood. Findings contribute to the research literature on bonding by emphasising the value of supportive care and the importance of social context, indicating specific factors to inform psychological support among sex working women.
AB - Many females engaged in sex work are mothers, often experiencing poverty, violence, marginalization, and psychological distress, factors also found to affect parental bonds. However, little is known about how this context impacts the bonding process. Given the ubiquity of sex work across geographical territories, understanding the relationship it has with mother-child bonding is an important international consideration in providing health care for sex working mothers and their children. Therefore, in this study we sought to explore women’s experiences of bonding with their children in the context of sex work. We interviewed six women in the UK who were sex working during the first two years of their child’s life about their bonding experiences and analysed transcripts using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. We identified four themes were identified: (1) the complex process of bonding; (2) the role of powerlessness on bonding; (3) the powerful impact of receiving help, and (4) new perspectives of the body and sex work following motherhood. Findings contribute to the research literature on bonding by emphasising the value of supportive care and the importance of social context, indicating specific factors to inform psychological support among sex working women.
U2 - 10.1080/07399332.2021.1949598
DO - 10.1080/07399332.2021.1949598
M3 - Journal article
VL - 43
SP - 663
EP - 685
JO - Health Care for Women International
JF - Health Care for Women International
SN - 1096-4665
IS - 6
ER -