Sex Work Policy Worldwide: A Scoping Review

Abstract

Researchers have conducted a lot of research into policies regulating commercial sex. This study is a scoping review aiming to characterize the research field as well as finding research gaps and suggest directions for future research. Nine electronic databases and a key journal (Sexuality Research and Social Policy) were searched using Boolean operators to identify studies containing “prostitution AND policy” or “sex work AND policy” in the title and/or abstract. A total of 3663 studies were identified, and of them, 351 were deemed eligible after duplicates were removed and the title and abstract had been assessed according to the study’s inclusion criteria. The studies on sex work policy were often conducted in English-speaking countries, the majority of which were about streetwalkers, criminalization of sex work, and trafficking policies. Interestingly, few empirical studies were conducted and stigmatization was frequently mentioned. There is an unmet need for studies addressing the lived experiences of sex workers under the Swedish Model, as well as studies about migrant sex workers and studies from Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Researchers should direct additional efforts into understanding the lived experiences of sex workers under the Swedish Model as well as into studies covering Africa, Asia, and Latin America.