INTRODUCTION

Coordinated and supported by the Encompass Network, ‘Inside Outside’ amplifies the voices of women who are, or have been, involved in the sex industry in Scotland. These are voices not often heard in the mainstream press, and often drowned out on social media.

Women took part in recorded conversations with Linda Thompson from the Women's Support Project and worked with Kathryn Rattray, a Dundee based photographer, to illustrate their stories with digital photographs.  

The conversations were lengthy and emotionally charged at times. There were tears and laughter, anger, guilt and shame. There was also hope, courage and sharp wit.

Excerpts of the interviews are included here to tell the women's stories, transcribed to include the wonderful accents, rich dialects and local sayings which all help to give a real sense of the women. Each woman had control over which parts of her story she wanted to keep for herself and which she wanted to share. Names and some details, for example location, have been changed to preserve anonymity.

The individual stories are accompanied by photographs taken by the women on camera phones. The photographs are their ideas and their work, focusing on images which represent both negative and positive memories and experiences, and often highlighting the women's strengths.