Dr. Frances Shaver

Biography

Frances M. Shaver received her doctoral degree in Sociology from Université de Montréal in 1987. Currently, she is a Professor in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology at Concordia University. Since 1990, she has participated in Canadian government-funded research projects focusing on people working in the sex industry, serving as both a principal investigator and co-investigator. Shaver has explored gender differences in work patterns among street-based sex workers in Montreal and San Francisco, comparing their working experiences to those of hospital workers in Montreal and Toronto. In recent studies, she collaborated with Jacqueline Lewis and Eleanor Maticka-Tyndale from the University of Windsor, Ontario, to partner with community organizations in Toronto and Montreal, including the Exotic Dancers’ Association Canada and Maggie’s. This collaboration was part of a five-year Social Science and Humanities Research Council of Canada study aimed at examining the impact of public policy on the health and well-being of people working in the sex industry across two major Canadian cities. Through her research, Shaver has produced policy reports and a series of information pamphlets for workers in the sex industry. Additionally, she acts as a knowledge mobilizer for the general public and scholars, initiating events that bring together community partners, scholars, and policymakers.

Research Interests