Breaking the Stigma of Sex Work

The stigma surrounding sex work is one of the most persistent and harmful forces working against bodily autonomy, dignity, and safety. Rooted in centuries of misogyny, this stigma extends far beyond public opinion – it shapes law, access to care, cultural narratives, and even personal relationships. And its impact is not abstract. It is tangible, often violent, and deeply isolating.

Misconceptions about sex work continue to be reinforced by sensationalized media, outdated laws, and judgmental language that frames sex workers as victims, deviants, or criminals – rarely as people with agency. This creates a feedback loop in which sex workers are punished for existing, then denied the tools to survive that punishment. Criminalization, in particular, remains one of the most dangerous consequences of stigma. In many parts of the world – including Scotland, where recent legislation has sought to criminalize the purchase of sex – laws that target either clients or workers push sex work further underground. When work becomes more hidden, it becomes less safe. Workers face greater exposure to violence, exploitation, and health risks, all while knowing that law enforcement and healthcare systems often won’t protect them – and may actively harm them.

These legal frameworks are supported by broader systems of discrimination that follow sex workers into hospitals, police stations, classrooms, and family courts. Many workers avoid medical care for fear of being judged or mistreated by providers. Others stay silent about abuse or workplace violence because they know they won’t be believed – or worse, they’ll be blamed. The fear of social exclusion or losing custody of children keeps many sex workers from disclosing their profession even to people they trust. As a result, sex workers are often isolated from the very networks that help people survive systemic violence: support from loved ones, access to institutional care, legal recourse, and stable housing or employment options.

Around the world, worker-led organizations fight for their rights, safety, and recognition. They argue that sex work is work. That people deserve to do the work they choose without being criminalized, stigmatized, or denied services. That autonomy and consent don’t end when money enters the equation.

As observers, allies, or people who are still learning, we each have a role to play in this fight. The first step is education – understanding that sex work is complex, that it intersects with gender, race, class, immigration, and disability in ways that require nuance, and that the lives and voices of sex workers must be centered in any conversation about the profession. We can start by examining the language we use, such as recognizing how casually words like “prostitute” or “whore” are weaponized to dehumanize and erase. We can move toward language that acknowledges sex workers as human beings navigating systems just like anyone else.

Supporting decriminalization efforts is essential. Contrary to popular belief, decriminalization does not mean deregulation or chaos – it means creating safer, healthier conditions for people already doing this work. It means reducing police violence, improving access to healthcare, and making it easier to leave the industry if and when someone wants to. It’s harm reduction at the structural level. We can also support sex worker-led organizations, donate to mutual aid efforts, attend events and teach-ins, or simply have the hard conversations with people in our lives. Often, stigma persists not because people are inherently cruel, but because they’ve never been asked to imagine anything different.

Breaking the stigma of sex work is about saving lives. It’s about building a world where survival isn’t criminalized, where pleasure isn’t shameful, and where labor – of all kinds – is recognized and respected. It starts with refusing to look away, and choosing instead to listen, learn, and speak up.