Propensities to Organise

This chapter examines the general or ‘higher level’ forces and processes towards the collectivisation and unionisation of sex workers, rather than the more specific or ‘lower level’ tendencies which were examined in the previous three chapters. Collectivisation and unionisation are conceptually separate processes but most often in practice with regard to sex workers, both represent a singular process, which is referred to as becoming ‘organised’. However, in the next chapter concerning barriers to union organising, this generalisation is qualified through contextualisation. Consequently, the task of this chapter is to construct and present an overall analysis drawing on the preceding chapters, particularly Chapters 5, 6 and 7. Specifically, this chapter engages in the process of generalisation and abstraction by identifying the common features and characteristics across the seven countries under study in terms of the context, intention, process and outcome of the union organising of sex workers. At the same time, this chapter is also wise to the differences and dissimilarities between these contexts, intentions, processes and outcomes of sex worker union organising amongst the different sex worker sub-groups. Again, some of this latter material will be located in the following chapter. Therefore, Chapters 8 and 9 need to be held in conjunction with each other to gain the rounded totality intended.