Sex work has historically been closely associated with discrimination, marginalization, and criminalization. From past centuries to the present day, sex work has always been viewed from a moralistic, sometimes religious, perspective that prioritize social control and normative judgments(Walkowitz, 2024). The term sex work was coined by Carol Leigh in the 1970s in an attempt to reduce stigma and unite workers in their quest for rights by replacing pejorative terminology (Leigh, 1998). Carol, who also worked in sex, created the term after feeling uncomfortable participating in a conference where the term “sex use industry” was used. The creation of the term is part of feminist movements and groups seeking the rights of sex workers, such as COYOTE (Call Off Your Old Tired Ethics) (Walkowitz, 2024). Since then, the term has become established as a political and social act to claim rights and recognition. Over time, the term has been used as an umbrella term for various sexual activities involving commercial transactions, from in-person sex to, more recently, the sale of sexual content on the internet, such as over the platform OnlyFans (De Gioannis et al., 2025). The internet has helped to give visibility and greater autonomy to sex workers. However, despite these platforms becoming known and popular, structural challenges and social pressures persist. While the nature of sex work and the use of the term have evolved, systemic barriers against sex workers remain a reality.
The following sections analyze the intersectional vulnerabilities inherent in sex work, including economic precariousness and the lack of legal protections. Additionally, the text addresses sensitive topics such as systemic violence, substance use, and mental health challenges, including suicidal ideation.
Framing & Perspectives
Sex work is mostly carried out by people who are marginalized by society, like cis women, trans women, migrants, racialized people, or gay men. This pattern is not coincidental. Getting into sex work is often marked by different forms of marginalization and stigmatization that push people out of formal jobs. Economic hardship and associated structural unemployment mean that many consider sex work a means of survival (Garcia-Vasquez, 2023). Autonomy and vulnerability coexist here. Sex work offers undeniable avenues for agency, granting control over one’s body and economic resources. But this agency comes at a cost. The lack of legal frameworks forces these exchanges into the shadows. Consequently, workers operate without protection, making their independence profoundly precarious and vulnerable to violence, abuse by clients, drug abuse, and sexually transmitted diseases, especially in countries where sex work is not decriminalized (Yang et al., 2025). Sex work should never be viewed from a single perspective, but rather as an experience shaped by multiple layers of vulnerability and oppression that limit access to rights, health, and safety, and is intersected by complex power dynamics and inequalities (Argento et al., 2021). For example, the experience of transgender individuals illustrates this precarity. Frequently barred from the formal labor market, many turn to sex work as a strategy for economic survival. This choice yields financial agency but occurs within a legal vacuum. Consequently, these workers remain on the fringes of citizenship. They are denied standard employment benefits and basic civil protections, meaning they lack any institutional safety net during moments of crisis, illness, or housing instability.
Relevance
Although the discussion surrounding sex work has advanced significantly in recent decades, in the sense of debating sex work as legitimate work, stigma and criminalization continue to profoundly affect the lives of sex workers, especially those who carry multiple layers of vulnerability, such as trans people, BIPOC people, and immigrants. These processes can have physical and mental impacts, with a high prevalence of depression and suicidal ideation among people who carry out in sex work (Beattie et al., 2020). In countries where the practice is criminalized, fear of retaliation prevents people from seeking help. This creates barriers to accessing psychological and health support, as well as protective measures against violence, which can worsen their already precarious situations (Argento et al., 2019). As a result, there is a political and social demand to combat marginalization and promote social justice by decriminalizing sex work and creationing inclusive public policies that can guarantee sex workers’ labor rights and safety.
Keywords: Sex Work, Gender, Sexuality, Social Justice
Connected terms: Feminism, Gender-Based Violence, Precarious Work, Gig Economy, Transgender Rights
References
Argento, E., Strathdee, S. A., Shoveller, J. A., Braschel, M., & Shannon, K. (2021). Correlates of Suicidality Among A Community-Based Cohort of Women Sex Workers: The Protective Effect of Social Cohesion. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 36(19–20), 9709–9724. https://doi.org/10.1177/0886260519870167
Beattie, T. S., Smilenova, B., Krishnaratne, S., & Mazzuca, A. (2020). Mental health problems among female sex workers in low- and middle-income countries: A systematic review and meta-analysis. PLOS Medicine, 17(9), e1003297. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1003297
De Gioannis, E., Casnici, N., & Sigala, E. (2025). Online Sex Work and Subscription-Based Digital Platforms: A Scoping Review. https://doi.org/10.1080/00224499.2025.2454989
Leigh, C. (1998). Inventing Sex Work. In J. Nagle (Ed.), Whores and Other Feminists (pp. 223–231). Routledge.
Walkowitz, J. R. (2024). The Idea of Sex Work. Radical History Review, 2024(149), 81–110. https://doi.org/10.1215/01636545-11027496
Yang, C., Huang, Y.-T., & Newman, P. A. (2025). A Qualitative Systematic Review of Stigma, Violence, Victimization, and Associated Coping Among Transgender People Engaged in Sex Work. Trauma, Violence, & Abuse, 26(3), 582–597. https://doi.org/10.1177/15248380241284586
