Experiences of the Sex Industry

This anthology presents the individual stories of sex workers and buyers in England and Wales,in their own words, and reflects on their experience of engaging in research and managing through the COVID-19 pandemic. It is of interest to policymakers and students of criminology, sociology, social policy, law, and qualitative methods.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 120 pages
Publication date: 16 January 2024
Publisher: Bristol University Press

This anthology presents the individual stories of sex workers and buyers in England and Wales, in their own words, using unpublished email interviews collected for a Home Office project on the sex industry. The author, Natasha Mulvihill, also re-interviews the participants to reflect on their original interviews, their experience of engaging in research, and of managing through the COVID-19 pandemic.

Of interest to policymakers and students of criminology, sociology, social policy, law, and qualitative methods, the text seeks to navigate through the difficult politics of the sex industry and re-focus our understanding on the lived experiences of those involved.

The book is divided into three parts: the first part explores the experiences of sex workers and buyers in England and Wales, the second part examines the legal and policy context of the sex industry, and the third part explores the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the sex industry.

The first part of the book explores the experiences of sex workers and buyers in England and Wales, in their own words. The interviews are conducted with a range of sex workers, including escorts, brothels, and street workers, as well as buyers of sex services. The interviews provide a rich insight into the experiences of sex workers and buyers, including their backgrounds, motivations, and experiences of the sex industry.

The second part of the book examines the legal and policy context of the sex industry. The author discusses the legal frameworks that regulate the sex industry, including the Sexual Offences Act 2003 and the Human Trafficking Act 2015. The author also discusses the policies and practices of the Home Office and other government agencies that regulate the sex industry, including the police and the Crown Prosecution Service. The author argues that the legal and policy context of the sex industry is complex and multifaceted, and that there is a need for a more nuanced and empathetic approach to regulating the sex industry.

The third part of the book explores the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the sex industry. The author discusses the ways in which the pandemic has impacted the sex industry, including the closure of brothels and escort agencies, the increase in online sex work, and the increased risk of violence and exploitation. The author also discusses the ways in which sex workers and buyers have responded to the pandemic, including the use of technology to maintain contact with clients and the increased use of support services.

Overall, this anthology provides a valuable insight into the experiences of sex workers and buyers in England and Wales, and into the legal and policy context of the sex industry. The book is a valuable resource for policymakers, students, and researchers interested in the sex industry and in the ways in which it is regulated and impacted by law and policy.
This anthology presents the individual stories of sex workers and buyers in England and Wales, in their own words, using unpublished email interviews collected for a Home Office project on the sex industry. The author, Natasha Mulvihill, also re-interviews the participants to reflect on their original interviews, their experience of engaging in research, and of managing through the COVID-19 pandemic.

Of interest to policymakers and students of criminology, sociology, social policy, law, and qualitative methods, the text seeks to navigate through the difficult politics of the sex industry and re-focus our understanding on the lived experiences of those involved.

The book is divided into three parts: the first part explores the experiences of sex workers and buyers in England and Wales, the second part examines the legal and policy context of the sex industry, and the third part explores the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the sex industry.

The first part of the book explores the experiences of sex workers and buyers in England and Wales, in their own words. The interviews are conducted with a range of sex workers, including escorts, brothels, and street workers, as well as buyers of sex services. The interviews provide a rich insight into the experiences of sex workers and buyers, including their backgrounds, motivations, and experiences of the sex industry.

The second part of the book examines the legal and policy context of the sex industry. The author discusses the legal frameworks. The author also discusses the policies and practices of the Home Office and other government agencies that regulate the sex industry, including the police and the Crown Prosecution Service. The author argues that the legal and policy context of the sex industry is complex and multifaceted, and that there is a need for a more nuanced and empathetic approach to regulating the sex industry.

The third part of the book explores the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the sex industry. The author discusses the ways in which the pandemic has impacted the sex industry, including the closure of brothels and escort agencies, the increase in online sex work, and the increased risk of violence and exploitation. The author also discusses the ways in which sex workers and buyers have responded to the pandemic, including the use of technology to maintain contact with clients and the increased use of support services.

Overall, this anthology provides a valuable insight into the experiences of sex workers and buyers in England and Wales, and into the legal and policy context of the sex industry. The book is a valuable resource for policymakers, students, and researchers interested in the sex industry and in the ways in which it is regulated and impacted by law and policy.

ISBN-13: 9781529216561