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Session 7: Data Analysis - Expert Peer Researcher Recommendations

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Session 7: Data Analysis - Expert Peer Researcher Recommendations

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Jessica Hyer Griffin: Top 5 Recommendations for the Police

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1.    Ensure jurors are given the appropriate training and support during court processes and that they are selected due to suitability and knowledge rather than chosen by random selection.

This is particularly important for sexual violence cases.

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1.    Improve delivery and strategies of support to all survivors following a report of abuse by a.) offering trauma-informed support services for victims in court, peer support during forensics and reporting processes and ISVA services regardless of whether the survivor wishes to report to the police and b.) improving on and increasing co-operation between specialist NGO advocates and police.

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Treat survivors with dignity and respect throughout their experience with the criminal justice system. This includes offering distressed members of the public safe spaces, ensuring survivors are informed of support options and their right to an ISVA, are contacted by their preferred method of contact at appropriate times and use unmarked police cars and plain clothed police officers at survivors’ homes.

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1.    Provide clear victim information about every step of the criminal justice process, from preserving forensic evidence after a rape or sexual assault, to what happens after a Court case and on perpetrator release from custody (ALL SITES).

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Session 6: Data Analysis - Sex Worker Interviews

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Session 6: Data Analysis - Sex Worker Interviews

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Analysis of Sex Worker Interviews

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Polls were taken to prompt discussion of quotes

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Polls were taken to prompt discussion of quotes

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Finding appropriate quotes.

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Finding appropriate quotes.

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Be familiar with the codes, especially those that will serve you in your writing.

Understand the subcodes and their relationship to the main codes. this will help you to focus when finding the best quotes for your work.

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Do sex workers in some jurisdictions understand their rights and the law better than in other jurisdictions?

Might a focus group provide data that is otherwise difficult to get?
Where might a focus group have an advantage over a 1-1 interview?

What are the commonalities of experience for sex workers?
Where do their experiences differ?

How does sexual assault against sex workers relate to the broader theme of human rights in each jurisdiction?

How might risks to sex workers be reduced? Micro, Meso, and Macro approaches.

Legalisation Vs Decriminalisation -  Understand and be clear on the two options.

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What does the quote really say/do?
How does the quote relate to the data as a whole?
Are you using the quote accurately? Preserving it's integrity?

Think about:

Sexual violence and mental health
Police justice
Experiences of court
Quality of services
Outcomes

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Video: Handsome Pay - Masculine perspectives on being rewarded in sexual transactions

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Video: Handsome Pay - Masculine perspectives on being rewarded in sexual transactions

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'A ship in harbour is safe, but that is not what ships are built for.' - John A Shedd

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Thanks to Gillian and Teela for excellent presentations on writing up and disseminating our findings.

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1) Connelly, L., Sanders, T. (2020) Disrupting the boundaries of the academe: co-creating knowledge and sex work academic-activism. In Walklate, S., Fitz Gibbon, K., Maher, J., McCulloch, J. (Eds) Emerald Handbook of Criminology, Feminism and Social Change.  Bingley: Emerald. Chapter available at: https://eprints.whiterose.ac.uk/181379/3/Disrupting%20the%20Boundaries%20of%20the%20Academe.pdf

2) Example of complex findings communicated powerfully:
Max Rashbrooke and Toby Morris: The Wealth Inequality Tower, NZ, 2018.  Available at: https://thespinoff.co.nz/society/31-07-2018/the-side-eye-inequality-tower-2018

3) A video made by the peers in the Beyond the Gaze project, which some of our team led:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fy4GszKoYu8&t=29s

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Question 1: What are your tips and ideas for successful writing (academic articles, infographics and other reports)? Question 2: “How can we effectively communicate our findings to bring about change?”

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Session 4: Excluded Communities / Data Analysis

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Session 4: Excluded Communities / Data Analysis

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We learned from excellent presentations on:

Involving excluded / diverse communities in sex worker research (including hard to reach Māori communities).

Involving men and trans people in the project (intersectionality and representation).

From data analysis to publication.

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Armstrong, L., Fraser, C. (2020) The Disclosure Dilemma: Stigma and Talking About Sex Work in the Decriminalised Context.  In Armstrong, L., & Abel, G. (Eds.) Sex Work and the New Zealand Model: Decriminalisation and Social Change.  Bristol: Policy Press.

https://www.brusselstimes.com/211351/historic-reform-belgium-first-in-europe-to-officially-decriminalise-sex-work

Smith, Linda Tuhiwai (2012) Decolonizing Methodologies: Research and Indigenous Peoples. Bloomsbury Publishing.

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As the Federal Parliament approved the new sexual penal code on Thursday evening, Belgium is now the first country in Europe to officially decriminalise sex work. The country is now removing sex work from its penal code.

After the Justice Committee approved Justice Minister Vincent Van Quickenborne's proposal in February, the Federal Parliament has now also officially voted in favour of the bill. This means that sex work has finally been decriminalised and workers are given social rights, his cabinet announced.

"In terms of sex work, this is a historic reform," Van Quickenborne said in a press release. "It ensures that sex workers are no longer stigmatised, exploited and made dependent on others. Belgium is the first country in Europe to decriminalise sex work. It confirms our nation's ethically progressive reputation."

Outside of Europe, New Zealand is the only country that did this before Belgium.

The new sexual criminal law will enter into force three months after its publication in the Belgian Official Journal. This publication will happen "as soon as possible" and "should not take long," his cabinet confirmed to The Brussels Times.

Related News:

Under current regulation, sex work is allowed, but third parties involved with sex workers are committing a crime. This brings many problems, as anyone who works with sex workers - such as an accountant or a driver - also becomes part of criminal practices. Without a legal framework, a sex worker cannot simply go to a bank to get a mortgage loan, for example.

During the coronavirus pandemic, the need for a legal framework became apparent once more as sex workers had no recognition, no social status, and in some cases no safety net in case of reduced income.

With this reform, Van Quickenborne stressed that sex workers will finally be given what they are entitled to: recognition and protection. "That is why we are gradually decriminalising sex work for adults. This is a necessary condition for establishing a social legal framework for them," the press release states.

However, Daan Bauwens of the sex workers union UTSOPI stressed that this means that the work is not done yet. "For self-employed sex workers, everything is okay now. For employees, the path is clear to a labour code and minimum conditions that can be imposed on the sector," he told The Brussels Times.

Making sex work on a legal basis only possible for self-employed sex workers is just the first step, says Van Quickenborne. The next step is regulating sex work by imposing rules on safety, hygiene, and working conditions on companies.

Loverboys and sugar daddies

Advertising for sex work of an adult is also only allowed when they are advertising for their own sexual services, such as a window in a room where people are currently already engaged in prostitution. Ads on internet platforms or in newspapers and magazines specifically intended for this purpose will also be permitted. "Think of the classic small advertisement in a newspaper."

Belgium will also be tougher on the abuse of prostitution. "We penalise pimps, and inciting anyone to enter into prostitution is also absolutely forbidden. Strict action will be taken against loverboys, sugar daddies and other abusive practices."

On top of that, the specialised care centres for trafficking in human beings will offer first-line help to victims of the abuse of prostitution, even when there is no human trafficking to speak of. Until now, these victims were left out in the cold. "Through decriminalisation, we ensure that exploited sex workers who are not victims of human trafficking are also entitled to receive help in specialised centres."

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'Historic': Belgium first in Europe to decriminalise sex work

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As the Federal Parliament approved the new sexual penal code on Thursday evening, Belgium is now the first country in Europe to officially decriminalise sex work. The country is now removing sex work from its penal code. After the Justice Committee approved Justice Minister Vincent Van Quickenborne's proposal in February, the Federal Parliament has now also officially voted in favour of the bill.

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Question 1: Which groups and individuals have been excluded / silenced in sex work research literature and in your research site? Where are the gaps?

Question 2: How do we decolonize the project (including academic literature and participants?  Which diverse / excluded voices should we include (sex workers, groups and practitioners)?

Question 3: What biases might you have when analyzing interviews?  How do we overcome them?

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The Refrigerator of Wisdom session quote...

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The Refrigerator of Wisdom session quote...

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Session 3: Legal Norms, Law and Consent / Research Ethics

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Session 3: Legal Norms, Law and Consent / Research Ethics

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Thanks to Jane and Rachel for sharing:
Sophie Day chapter - What counts as rape? Physical assault and broken contracts: contrasting views of rape among London Sex Workers

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Q1. What do sex workers own understandings of sexual violence brings to our understanding of rape, sexual violence and law?

Q2. What are the current legal norms in your area? What do you think/ know from experience are the main issues facing victims? And what do sex workers own understandings of sexual violence brings to our understanding of the issue and how this may inform understandings of legal rules and legal change?

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1) Always ensure informed consent: Give them the Participant Information and signed consent or verbal consent on the recording.
2) If a researcher has a safeguarding or ethical problem or worry, contact the PI in your country.  There are official University channels and processes to protect us.

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Session 2: Surviving Sexual Violence- Trauma-informed working

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Session 2: Surviving Sexual Violence- Trauma-informed working

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Thanks to Sam for sharing this video (Trigger warning: This video contains powerful stories of child abuse and sexual violence but is really uplifting at the end!):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2p06x-yumc0

Thanks to Cherida for this guide (which seemed like science fiction in the US, but gives us all hope!): https://www.nzpc.org.nz/pdfs/WHAT-TO-DO-A-guide-for-sex-workers-who-have-experienced-sexual-assault.pdf

Thanks to Alessandra for sharing this: https://www.eswalliance.org/briefing_paper_on_sex_work_and_mental_health

A research briefing about trauma and sexual violence: https://noviolence.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Trauma-Practice-Paper-FINAL-002.pdf

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Q1.  How can power dynamics be harmful for interviewing, especially when communicating with survivors and sex workers? What can we do to combat this?
Q2. What opportunities for choice and control can we give, e.g. before the interview, during the interview, contact and support afterwards?

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The Refridgerator of Wisdom session quote...

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The Refridgerator of Wisdom session quote...

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Session 1: Action Learning and Peer Research 

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Session 1: Action Learning and Peer Research 

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What do we need to know to work together? 

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What do we need to know to work together? 

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No hierarchy; we meet people where they are.
There is NO shame or judgement here!  We will support each other to overcome fears and imposter syndrome..
We have privacy and confidentiality in this group and won't share anything about anyone outside the sessions..
You can't say anything wrong - we are here to hold space and compassion..
We all worry that we don't know what we are doing - just show up :)
Be honest if we are having problems.. we will get through them together.  It's okay to be upset...  Let someone know if you are having a difficult time.
We will learn how to protect ourselves from vicarious trauma and being affected by experiences in interviewing.
Step in for your friends and peers. A safe and supportive, fun space for learning and action!

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Phones off, please.
Practice active listening and appreciate all contributions..
Ensure everyone is involved in each session and discussion.
This is a supportive space - don't criticise, just probe or ask in a different way.
Everyone is an expert in their own right - no hierarchy here.  We are bridging between lived experience and academia needs time and patience to be genuine.
Only share what you are comfortable sharing.
This is a confidential space, so please don't take anything about an individual outside the group.  Make sure no-one at home can overhear the session...
Be aware that content can be triggering; reach out if you want support, or take a break and let someone know you are okay.
It's okay to be upset.
Please say if you can't do something, we will be there to help.
Be aware of vicarious trauma and support each other with good de-briefing..

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A Reflection Sheet to use before/after each session..

A great short video about empathy and what it requires us to do, shared with the group... Thanks Sam! :)