Sex Workers' Lifestyle Sex Workers' Lifestyle_Final (1) | Page 45

I: “About you?” Lj: “No.” I: “With your family?” Lj: “No.” I: “With your friends?” Lj: “With my friends yes. We openly talk about this because they are my friends.” Female sex worker L: “Not with my family, but I do with my friends. You can’t talk about this with your family because they wouldn’t accept you, they would reject you. I often discuss this with my friends because they are supportive.“ Transgender sex worker Only two respondents stated that their friends can have influence on their professional decision-making process: J: “Well, of course they can. They can see the negative aspects of the job, so you are normally disappointed, but anyway, you know your job.” Female sex worker The other respondents stated that no one can influence their decisions related to their job: L: “Well, I can’t say they influence me, because I make my own decisions.” Transgender sex worker S: “No way, that only depends on what’s in my mind, only depends on me and myself, and nobody can influence that decision in any way.” Male sex worker S: “You mean if they bother me? They can’t. I make the decision and that’s final.” Female sex worker In 60% of all research respondents, sex work is their only source of existential income, whereas the rest are engaged in civil associations or other services: L: “This is not the only job I live off of. I also work in a non-government sector, in the Association for Support of Marginalized Workers STAR-STAR and I am an assistant, and a health program coordinator.” Transgender sex worker Lj: “Well, no. I also do something on the sidelines. I: “What is it that you do? “ Lj: “I work in the STAR-STAR Organization, on the info line and I also do outreach work. I am an activist and a sex worker.” Female sex worker J: “No. I work in cafes and I also do sex work.” Female sex worker According to the working-hours timelines given by the sex workers in their interviews, it can be concluded that they do carefully plan their working time, depending on variety of factors, which include: need of finances, daily duties and routines, clients, free time etc. 14