Community mobilization around street sex work in Ottawa

Abstract

Over the last three years the issue of street sex work has emerged as a contentious one in the Ottawa area. Many agencies in the community such as the police, social services and the municipal government each seek to deal with the matter. In considering this situation, I utilize Social Movement Theory to critically analyse a state-initiated social movement. This thesis presents the findings of a case study of the community group "Together for Vanier" in the east area of Ottawa. Drawing on documents produced by or about the group, observations at community meetings and interviews with key community players, the author argues that absent in Social Movement Theory is a consideration of silenced voices, rendering movements to appear more cohesive than they actually are. This paper suggests that "Together for Vanier" is not an authentic social movement, but rather a state generated one. The thesis concludes by utilizing ideas from Governmentality and Foucault to argue that "Together for Vanier" represents a form of governing at a distance and is thus a site of contestation. Key words: community mobilization, social movement, street sex work