Acceptance and rejection: Brothers’ and sisters’ responses to sex work disclosure in Poland

Many sex workers withhold the character of their work from family members and partners for fear of rejection due to social stigma. Passing as a non-sex worker allows them to secure their social status, but also makes it impossible to obtain support and can thus give rise to a sense of loneliness. Within the family, siblings can act as a safe audience for disclosure purposes. Based on an analysis of in-depth interviews with female sex workers in Poland, I discuss their siblings’ diverse reactions to disclosure, ranging from acceptance to rejection. My focus is primarily on the differences between brothers' and sisters’ responses, both at the time of disclosure and in the long term. The dynamics of sibling post-disclosure relationship patterns are plotted against the impact of factors such as age and exposure to courtesy stigma. I also address the potential redefinition of a sibling’s role in the wake of such disclosure (e.g., assistance in hiding sex work from other family members or involvement in sex work).