Achieving Empowerment over Shame through the Arts: A Photovoice Study Exploring Shame and Resistance among Women Sex Workers

Abstract

ABSTRACT Informed by Brown’s theory of shame resilience and Scheff’s symbolic interactionist theory of social bonds as this relates to the emotion of shame, this article presents an in-depth exploration of the emotional and social experiences of eleven women working in the sex industry and the induced stigma and shame of their life situations. Using photovoice methodology, the photographs and interview data revealed that being engaged in sex work was not in and of itself shame inducing, but the personal, social, and institutional stigma of their work made it difficult to maintain their physical, emotional, and mental health. While the findings highlight the highly social aspect of shame and the oppression it brings upon women engaged in sex work, the act of photographing their experiences and sharing them through the arts-based research method of photovoice served as a form of empowerment and resistance, allowing for a redefinition and reconceptualization of the shame, stereotypes and assumptions associated with their work in the sex industry. Incorporating the arts in strengths-based, feminist therapy with sex workers can help individuals reflect on their abilities, identify their experiences, express emotion, and narratives, while offering insights into alternative possibilities and solutions in their lives.