Experience of violence perception among Iranian female sex workers and their strategies in confronting violence

Following the Islamic Revolution, the establishment of an ideological regime brought significant transformations in cultural and social spheres. Consequently, sex work was criminalized in Iran, with severe penalties imposed on those involved. The stigmatization and criminalization of sex work drove the phenomenon from an overt and formal practice into an informal and concealed one. This shift not only eroded the civil rights of female sex workers and marginalized them further but also exposed them to various forms of violence and abuse in the course of their work—all in the absence of legal protections. This qualitative study employs thematic analysis to examine the experiences of violence and coping strategies among sex workers in the city of Mashhad. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 27 participants between October 2022 and March 2023. Findings reveal that women engaged in sex work encounter multiple forms of violence, including economic, sexual, physical, psychological-verbal, and social violence. In the absence of legal and social support, and given their exclusion from public spaces and women's rights movements, these women adopt various strategies to mitigate harm and survive in violent conditions. These strategies include limiting sexual relationships, shifting from street-based to temporary marriage-based sex work (ṣyghıh), feigning self-harm, or submitting to coercion. By centering the narratives of these women, this study presents a multilayered depiction of systemic violence and individual resistance within one of the most hidden realms of social life. It underscores the urgent need for policy reforms and stronger institutional support to improve the conditions of this vulnerable population.