Prostitution/Sex Work

This entry reviews the past and current state of the discipline that theorizes and studies the commercial sex industry. We set out the nature and characteristics of sex work and prostitution, before describing the theoretical boundaries of feminist thought that have attempted to make sense of the phenomenon. We also consider the less familiar topics such as men who purchase sex, the shape of the sex markets, female sex consumers, and more global issues such as migrancy and mainstreaming of the sex industry. In turn we look at the shape of the policy arena in relation to the regulation of sex work through legislation, decriminalization, and criminalization. Finally we hint at future research and methodological agendas.