Regulation of Sex Work

Module code: CR7155

The sex industry is a complex, intersectional and global economy which invites much criminological and sociological commentary and enquiry. This module will delve deeply into the complex world of commercial sex, scrutinising the dynamics of regulation at home and abroad. This module explores the complexities of the sex industry: from men who buy sex, women who work as sex workers on the street, as escorts or in massage parlours, third parties that own and manage business, and those who are exploited through unregulated markets. 

The law, criminal justice and social policy relating to prostitution and sex work will be examined in the UK and within a wider global focus. What does the sex industry tell us about gender, racial and sexual inequalities and why does the sex industry have such a prominent place in the culture of late modernity? This module will make you think about sex/work in a whole new way, challenging assumptions through the voices of sex workers. Guest lecturers with specific expertise will take some sessions, drawing on their involvement with national and international policy and practice in relation to regulation.