Protecting Whom, Why, and from What? The Dutch Government’s Politics of Abjection of Sex Workers in Times of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract Sex workers in the Netherlands experienced severe financial and social distress during COVID-19 health crisis. Notwithstanding them paying taxes over earnings, they were excluded from government support, faced discriminatory treatment concerning safe reopening, increased repression stigmatization. In this contribution, I explore whether concept of “vulnerability” contributes to understanding (and addressing) that situation. Data acquired through participatory action research, partly taking place online lock-down measures, literature content analysis show labeling sex “vulnerable” deflects attention away (in)actions Dutch authorities responsible for workers’ precarious conditions pandemic. Government denial strategies abjection explain these better than does, as return gaze actors processes accountable exclusion criminalization crisis thereby put responsibility where it belongs.