Abstract
This paper presents a comprehensive typology of the sex industry based on primary data collected between 2018 and 2019 for a UK Home Office-funded study. Typologies of the contemporary sex industry in England and Wales have tended to be limited to particular sectors or have been developed from a specific disciplinary perspective or theme (e.g. sexual health programming, income). Situated in the context of international sex industry typologies, this paper seeks to address this gap. Data was derived from an online survey, questionnaires and consultations with stakeholders including individuals currently or formerly involved in selling sex, service providers/NGOs, police, local authority representatives and others. The data was supplemented with insights from a systematic literature search. This work aims to assist with programme and policy planning in the UK context. Our methods can assist in developing typologies in other contexts.
Highlights
A typology of the sex industry can be useful both to understand and distinguish different activities and to assess prevalence, by providing categories within which to count
We carried out a systematic literature search of eight key academic databases for social sciences and health, for publications in English from the year 2000 onwards, which included in their abstract the search terms ‘prostitut-’ or ‘sex work’ or ‘commercial sexual exploitation’
The second part of our categorisation consists of thirteen1 settings and services where sexual or erotic acts or sexual intimacy are exchanged for payment or other benefit or need, 1 The study report (Hester et al 2019) includes a fourteenth setting, ‘bar-based sex workand hostess bars’
Summary
A typology of the sex industry can be useful both to understand and distinguish different activities and to assess prevalence, by providing categories within which to count. This can enable the development of targeted services and policies adapted to the specificities and needs of different groups (Buzdugan et al 2009). Sometimes categorisations are inconsistent across typologies, which means categories will not be mutually exclusive, a feature that Buzdugan et al (2009) argue is helpful for making typologies suitable for devising programmes and interventions. This is because as long as the typology is ‘exhaustive’—another Buzdugan et al (2009, p. 674) criterion—‘ having mutually exclusive categories simplifies the typology without sacrificing the potential for complete programme coverage.’
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