Front Line Workers? Impacts of the Covid-19 Pandemic on Sex Workers in California

Dylan Junkin’s human rights capstone focuses on the impact of COVID-19 on sex workers in California and captures their testimonies in a podcast script featuring original interviews and audio. He moves to understand how the pandemic is impacting this community whose lives and work do not make headlines or receive support from government legislation. The podcast script tracks Junkin’s journey researching and speaking with activists, non-profit leaders, and individuals in the sex industry, in Los Angeles and the Bay Area. Through this process, Junkin challenges preconceptions about sex workers and the sex industry and reflects critically on his own perspective and privilege. The podcast script is also meant to serve as a window into the lives and views of individuals who were gracious enough to share their stories with him. Student project deposited by department for archival purposes. Original work unavailable for public download due to permission restriction preferences of the author.