The mainstream society often assumes that sex workers are forced into their job. Sex workers are expected to quit prostitution as soon as possible, and few bothered to understand their personal dreams and goals.
主流社會往往認為性工作者被迫從事性行業，並期望她們應盡快「從良」，卻鮮有人願意了解性工作者的個人夢想和目標。
Centre member Prof. Raees Baig conducted a research on the economic condition of sex workers to understand why they work in the sex industry. Prof. Baig found that many sex workers have their own life goals, such as saving up enough for their family and to buy a flat, just like many Hongkongers. In collaboration with the JJJ Association, a self-help NGO formed by sex workers, they assessed the effectiveness of financial literacy training for sex workers. Through courses like this, sex workers were able to organize themselves and seek help from one another when there is a problem.
中心成員碧樺依教授曾研究性工作者的經濟狀況，以了解為什麼他們在性行業工作。碧樺依教授發現，許多性工作者和許多香港人一樣，都有自己的生活目標，比如存錢為家人和買樓。碧樺依教授與性工作者組成的非政府組織「姐姐仔會」合作，為一個為性工作者而設的理財課程進行評估。通過這樣的課程，性工作者便能在問題發生時組織起來，互相幫助。
Prejudice from police is a major problem that sex workers face, Prof. Baig said. Because of negative stereotypes against sex workers, the police often treat their cases with low priority. The legal restriction that permits only one sex worker per flat also makes crimes like robbery and murder less visible. Prof. Baig argues that more training to the police is needed to encourage sex workers to seek help from law enforcement in case of crime.
碧樺依教授說，警察的偏見是性工作者面臨的一個主要問題。由於對性工作者的負面定型，警方傾向不太重視她們的案件。「一樓一鳳」的法規也使搶劫和謀殺等罪案更難被發現。碧樺依教授認為，警方需要接受更多培訓，以鼓勵性工作者在罪案發生時尋求協助。
Caption: Financial literacy training for sex workers. Photo by JJJ Association.
圖：為性工作者而設的理財課程。 圖片由姐姐仔會提供。