Introduction: understanding consent and legal consciousness in sex work

Jane Scoular, Fanni Gyurko, Barbara G. Brents, Teela Sanders*, Gillian Abel

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapter

Abstract

This book examines how sex workers navigate different legal environments—criminalised, partially criminalised, legalised, and decriminalised—and how these contexts influence their experiences and definitions of sexual violence and unwanted sexual contact. In this chapter, we introduce the book’s main goals and foundational concepts. We start by outlining the research aims of the study that informs this book, and the importance of understanding how sex workers navigate legal systems. Next, the chapter explores the varied definitions and interpretations of sexual violence and consent. Following this, we discuss the concept of legal consciousness, focusing on how sex workers perceive, understand, and interact with the law. The chapter differentiates between formal laws, workplace rules, and informal norms, explaining how these distinctions shape the interpretation of our research findings. We then review the research methods used, before concluding with an overview of the chapters for the rest of the book.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationVoicing Consent
Subtitle of host publicationSex Workers, Sexual Violation and Legal Consciousness in Cross-National Contexts
EditorsTeela Sanders, Jane Scoular, Barbara G. Brents, Susie Balderston, Gillian Abel
Place of PublicationCham
PublisherPalgrave Macmillan Ltd.
Chapter1
Pages1-17
Number of pages17
ISBN (Electronic)9783031777158
ISBN (Print)9783031777141, 9783031777172
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 8 Feb 2025

Keywords

  • human rights
  • rape
  • consent
  • safe sex
  • social policy
  • stigma
  • regulating sex work
  • sexual assault
  • harrassment
  • whorephobia
  • victimology
  • public health
  • decriminalisation of sex work

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