“My Dollar Doesn’t Mean I’ve Got Any Power or Control over Them”: Clients Speak About Purchasing Sex

Abstract

Debates regarding sex work laws in the contemporary context are imbued with assumptions regarding the clients of sex workers. While in recent years research regarding the motivations and identities of clients has grown more common, clients were historically neglected in sex work research and there is little understanding of how they operate in a decriminalised environment. Despite the lack of research regarding clients in New Zealand’s decriminalised environment, the conduct of clients has been subject to intense speculation, particularly among campaigners outside of New Zealand who oppose decriminalisation. This chapter provides critical insights which complicates this speculation, presenting in-depth, qualitative research on the experiences of 12 clients who have paid for sex in the decriminalised context. Specifically, this chapter explores how these clients navigated their interactions with sex workers in this environment and considers how their conduct aligns with the PRA, which prioritises the rights and occupational health and safety of sex workers. The experiences of participants clearly indicated an acute awareness of the rights of sex workers and a perception that sex workers were not objects to be used, but individuals deserving of respect.