Issues and concerns of the sex buyer

[matfoo]

Hello,

It can be of interest:
(I copy\paste from their site)

This research has been designed in such a way that the results are intended to be used to highlight the voices, experiences, issues and concerns of the sex buyer. The topics that we cover and the questions that we ask have been developed so that the data we collect may be used to speak directly to current debates concerning the social, legal, political and health issues relating to the buying and selling of sex in Canada. Part of our goal is to collect information that can be used to enlighten current policies, practices and understandings pertaining to prostitution by including one of the most valuable voices on issues surrounding commercial sex in Canada � those of clients!

Our goal is to provide people who buy sex with a safe, private, confidential and secure venue for sharing their attitudes, opinions and experiences without fear of judgment, persecution or prosecution.

Chris Atchison
Department of Sociology and Anthropology
Simon Fraser University
8888 University Drive
Burnaby, British Columbia
Canada
V5A1S6
Phone: 604.339.0069
E-mail: [email protected]

http://www.johnsvoice.ca

 

[johnsvoice]

Johns' Voice - A response from the research team

Hi folks,

Let me start by extending my thanks to all the people from this board, and beyond, who have taken the time to share your thoughts, opinions and experiences with us through the online survey or the conversational interviews. I would also like to thank the many sex workers who have helped get the word out to your clients that do not have access to excellent forums like MERB. I am really happy to see that people from the sex buying and selling communities have appreciated the spirit of this important research.

For those of you who have not heard about this research or who are still a bit unclear what the research is about and why your participation is so important, let me explain.

Many of you may be aware that, right now there are important events, such as the two Supreme Court challenges to the current prostitution laws that are placing the issues of buying sex into the public arena. These activities offer a rather unique opportunity to challenge common stereotypes of clients of sex workers, to create a more rounded and fair picture of the experiences of sex buyers, and to build bridges of communication between the sex industry and the various community, health, academic, policy, advocacy, and legislative interest groups who have had the sole authority over prostitution policy in Canada - often with tragic results for the people who buy and sell sex. To begin to address these issues we are currently actively soliciting the participation of people who have paid for sex to contribute to our research.

There are two main ways that people who are interested in having your voice heard can participate in the research; a conversational interview or a self-administered questionnaire. The topics that are covered and the questions that are asked differ for each format. The interview (telephone or in-person) mode of the research is meant to be more of a free-flowing discussion so we don't really ask fixed questions; instead we prefer to talk openly about your: experiences with purchasing sex; thoughts and impressions on the way that commercial sex is currently organized and regulated; thoughts on how people involved in the buying of sex could better be included in discussions and decisions about health, legal, policy, community and social initiatives relating to commercial sex; and views on how the needs of people who purchase sex could be better met by health care providers, politicians, law enforcement, social researchers and other concerned parties. The self-administered survey (that can be completed online or downloaded and returned via conventional post), while addressing many of the same issues, is much more structured and completely anonymous. In the survey we ask about: general commercial sex behaviour; victimization, safety and conflict issues; legal experiences and opinions; information sharing; and health behaviour and needs. Like with the interview, the survey provides you with ample opportunity to elaborate on your thoughts, opinions, and experiences.

We have a strict policy of ensuring the privacy, confidentiality and security of the people who graciously agree to contribute to our research. Participation is completely voluntary (unlike the "research" that some of you who have "attended" prostitution offender diversion programs in Vancouver have been "asked" to participate in). The topics that we cover and the questions that we ask are as respectful as possible. We are not interested in developing a "profile" of sex buyers; instead, the questions we ask have been developed so that the data we collect may be used to speak directly to the current debates. It is my hope that we can get the participation of enough people from within the sex buying and selling community so that the results from this research can be used to provide a convincing and credible contribution to current policies, practices and understandings pertaining to the buying and selling of sex in Canada.

If any of you have any further questions or concerns about me or the research, please do not hesitate to message me through this board or visit the research web site at http://www.johnsvoice.ca

Be well,

Chris

 

[johnsvoice]

John's Voice: Some New Developments

Hi folks,

For those of you who have taken the opportunity to contribute to the Johns' Voice research, thank-you very much. For those of you who still don’t see why I think it is so important for the voices of sex buyers to be reflected in a fair and impartial manner, and why I think you should take some time to participate in the Johns’ Voice research, perhaps the following will give you something to think about. A very aggressive campaign http://badtrickbuttons.blogspot.com/ has been launched recently calling for people to sign a petition opposing the decriminalization of prostitution (see: http://www.canadacan.blogspot.com/). Some of you may have seen the people behind this campaign handing out petitions, buttons and flyers in the height of holiday shopping. As I have said before, there are currently challenges to Canadian laws before the Canadian courts. The people launching these challenges are making the argument that the current prostitution laws are unconstitutional and should therefore be struck down, effectively decriminalizing prostitution. The opposition’s position is what we are witnessing with the group I have linked to above. Please take some time to read the statements that they are making about people who buy sex and ask yourselves if their characterization represents you.

Be well,

Chris

 

[johnsvoice]

Project Status

Hi folks,

Just wanted to post a quick reply to let everyone know that I am indeed still keeping the project going to provide as many people from the community with an opportunity to provide their valuable input on the issues and experiences that are important to you. I'd like to thank all of you who have taken the time out of your day to provide your feedback through the online or PDF survey and those of you who have taken the time to speak with me personally or over the phone. Your thoughts and stories will go a long way toward helping to paint a very different picture of the sex buying community and hopefully the industry as a whole.

I can only afford to keep the research going until the 1st of April 2009, so if you haven't taken the time to have your voice heard please consider doing so in the next little while.

be well,

Chris

 

[johnsvoice]

Johns' Voice - Project Finale

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the many patrons and providers who are members of this community who have provided such positive feedback and support of the john's voice project (http://www.johnsvoice.ca). Thanks to your efforts the response to this research will make it the most comprehensive effort to include the voices of the sex buying community in Canada to date. With over 800 people from across Canada taking the 20-30 minutes to share your thoughts, beliefs, opinions and experiences via the self-administered web, email or mail-back survey and the 26 men who I have had the great opportunity to sit down and talk to (in person or over the phone), it is clear to me that this community has much to say and there is a real desire to be included in the discussions that you have all been excluded from for far too long.

It is with great reservation that I will be closing down the survey and interview portion of this project on the 1st of April so that I can begin the vital, but time consuming, process of transcribing and sorting through the 70 hours of interviews and analyzing the mountain of survey responses to generate meaningful policy reports, academic analyses and media statements that adequately represent the full range of your contributions and experiences. My goal is to have these analyses completed by the 31st August. I will post updates on this board once the analysis and writing has been completed, and the working drafts of all policy recommendations and preliminary analyses will be available for reading and download on the research web site (http://www.johnsvoice.ca).

For those of you who still wish to make your contribution to this project, the online and downloadable survey will remain accessible until the 1st of April. I will also be scheduling conversational interviews (telephone and in-person) until the 1st of April with the final interviews being completed on or before the 15th of April.

Thank-you again,

Chris

/*-----------------------------------------------------------------
Chris Atchison
Department of Sociology and Anthropology
Simon Fraser University
8888 University Drive
Burnaby, British Columbia
Canada
V5A1S6
Phone: 604.339.0069
E-mail: [email protected]
http://www.johnsvoice.ca
-----------------------------------------------------------------*/