personal work: Isolation, Vulnerability and Courage

In Macedonia, as throughout the world, sex workers are pushed to the margins of society by a combination of prejudice, discrimination, and violence. Sex workers inhabit a particularly vulnerable position in Macedonian society, facing harassment and violence not only from their clients and pimps, but also from law enforcement officials and other authorities. These abuses include physical violence, illegal detention, compulsory testing for sexually transmitted diseases, and rape, which are compounded by substandard enforcement of law and lack of access to health and support services. Adding to these challenges are the risks of HIV/AIDS and other STDs, drug addiction, a hostile public attitude, and mass-media harassment. Because of the tremendous negative stigma connected to prostitution in Macedonia, many sex workers are living double lives, concealing the fact that they are sex workers from their families and the communities in which they live. A disproportionate number of street-based sex workers, those most vulnerable, are members of the Roma community, Macedonia’s most harshly discriminated against ethnic minority group. Gay and transgender sex workers are often targeted and further marginalized because of their sexual or gender orientation.

Kristina, 22 years old, is the only transgender or male sex worker who works in the street on a regular basis. She has been the victim of numerous incidents of violence, physical as well as emotional and psychological. Skopje, Macedonia 2010
   
Alija, 20 years old, lives with and works for a pimp whom she says she is in love with, but also wants to leave because he is violent and controlling.Skopje, Macedonia 2010
   
Alfred, 20 years old, was placed in a state institution when he was a teenager because he was caught shoplifting and is now supporting himself as a sex worker.Skopje, Macedonia 2010
     
  
Kristina reported being raped by a client to men who identified themselves as police officers. The men recorded her with a cell-phone camera as she described the attack and later posted the video on youtube. Nothing was done about the reported attack.Skopje, Macedonia 2010
   
Family photos on the wall in Sabina's home.Skopje, Macedonia 2010.
   
Dunja, 23 years old, lives with her parents, brother and one year-old son. Since her husband has been in jail she has been working five nights a week in the street to support her entire family.Skopje, Macedonia 2010
     
  
Sandra, 34 years old, has been a sex worker for six years. She is very selective about her clientele and the conditions in which she works. She lives with and provides the primary financial support for her seven year-old daughter, her sister and extended family.Skopje, Macedonia 2010
   
Marinela, 31 years old, a former sex worker, is now doing support and service work with sex workers.Strumica, Macedonia 2010
   
Sabina's aunt plays with her son while a cousin looks on from the doorway of Sabina's home. Sabina, 28 years old, has five children, four of whom live with her. She began sex work when she was 15 years old, stopping when she was married and starting again when her husband went to prison.Skopje, Macedonia 2010
     
  
The bed in Boban's apartment, where he sees clients. Skopje, Macedonia 2010
   
Boban, 25 years old, sees clients in the apartment where he lives. He has a serious boyfriend who does not know he is a sex worker.Skopje, Macedonia 2010
   
Jasmina, 52 years old and a sex workers for eleven years, has taken care of her grandson since he was a baby.Skopje, Macedonia 2010
     
  
Tamara, 49 years old, has been a sex worker for over twenty years. She has three daughters, two of whom are also sex workers.Skopje, Macedonia 2010
   
The view of downtown Skopje's landmark stone bridge over the Vardar River. The area where street-based sex work takes place is just a couple blocks from the city center.Skopje, Macedonia 2010
   
Marko, 26 years old.Skopje, Macedonia 2010
     
  
Dunja.Skopje, Macedonia 2010
   
On Mondays and Wednesdays sex workers can get their hair and make-up done for free at the drop-in center.Skopje, Macedonia 2010
   
The ruined wall of an old nightclub where a gay male sex worker was beaten by a client.Strumica, Macedonia 2010