This project aims to explore how sex workers are treated in New Zealand, Scotland and Ireland, from their perspectives, and particularly how much the laws on sex work influence this.

The study is currently focusing on the Scottish context and will be exploring a range of issues relating to stigma and discrimination, including current sex work law, media representation and how they influence the general public as well as organisations and institutions’ perception and approach towards sex work and sex workers. We are particularly interested in how this affects sex workers’ day to day experiences at work and in their personal lives, as well as ultimately their safety and wellbeing.

The project seeks to generate insights that will amplify the voices of sex workers and contribute to advocacy efforts regarding, stigma, discrimination, laws, and sex workers’ rights. The findings will be used to produce a community resource as well as academic publications.