Graduation Date
Fall 2025
Document Type
Thesis
Program
Master of Arts degree with a major in Public Sociology
Committee Chair Name
Michihiro Sugata
Committee Chair Affiliation
Cal Poly Humboldt Faculty or Staff
Second Committee Member Name
Mary Virnoche
Second Committee Member Affiliation
Cal Poly Humboldt Faculty or Staff
Keywords
Sex work, COVID-19, U.S. policy, Pandemic, Harm reduction, Advocacy, Community, Sex industry, Decriminalization, COVID, Social distancing, Whorearchy, Work, Disinformation, Self-employment
Subject Categories
Sociology
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic impacted all forms of industry, including that of sex work. Between October 2020 until November 2022, I did field research and interviews with nine U.S.-based sex workers throughout those months of the pandemic. Using a grounded theory approach, I asked open-ended questions about their entrance into the industry, business practices, and personal experiences before and during the pandemic. Their stories allow us to gain insight into the impact the pandemic had on them as individuals and their broader communities. My analysis highlights a prominent influence of anti-trafficking policy, politicization of the virus, and the impact of Black Lives Matter and MeToo movements. All participants experienced fear and confusion around the pandemic with dramatic shifts to their personal and professional lives. Strip clubs and escort agencies shut down for extended periods of time, and a large influx of novel online creators appeared, oversaturating the market and showing the strength of autonomy and agency provided to workers. Algorithms proved to be a major struggle for online workers to navigate. As vaccinations and testing became more accessible to broader society, some participants shifted their practices though many were still engaging in COVID-conscious practices at the time of their interviews. Most participants gained new skills or passions due to their time at home.
Citation Style
ASA
Recommended Citation
Grandia, Sabrina M., "Sex work and COVID-19: An intersectional discussion of U.S.-based sex worker experiences during the pandemic" (2025). Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects. 2519.
https://digitalcommons.humboldt.edu/etd/2519