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Open research questions in Sex work and related issues

351 unresolved questions extracted from the limitations and future-work sections of 3,984 Sex work and related issues papers in our library. Each links back to the study that raised it.

What the literature leaves open

  • The field is not adequately harnessing the potential of technology in the service of FST prevention. Prevalence studies underestimate the incidence of FST. There is an absence of a coordinated research pipeline, and investigations into FST are occurring in isolation.

    A Multi-Site Consortium on Familial Sex Trafficking Prevention: A Brief Report on Lessons Learned and Future Directions · 2026 · DOI

  • the search was limited to studies published in English or Spanish, - the search was limited to studies published within the past five years, - the review only included qualitative and mixed-methods studies

    Motivations for Sexualised Drug Use among Sexual and Gender Minorities: A Scoping Review · 2026 · DOI

  • further research is needed to explore the motivations for SDU among SGM, - research should consider the social, cultural, and relational dimensions of SDU, - studies should investigate the effects of different substances on SDU

    Motivations for Sexualised Drug Use among Sexual and Gender Minorities: A Scoping Review · 2026 · DOI

  • small sample size of 18 participants, - limited to trans women sex workers in Kolkata, India, - no comparison with cisgender sex workers

    Navigating Digital Risks: Lived Experiences and Choices of Trans Women Sex Workers in Kolkata, India · 2026 · DOI

  • further research on the impact of digital surveillance on trans women sex workers, - comparison of online sex work experiences between trans women and cisgender women, - exploration of the effects of online sex work on mental health

    Navigating Digital Risks: Lived Experiences and Choices of Trans Women Sex Workers in Kolkata, India · 2026 · DOI

  • The study identifies the challenge of overcoming stigmatization and ensuring labor rights for sex workers. It highlights the need to address the vulnerability of sex workers and promote their dignity as workers and citizens. The research also notes the challenge of transforming the reality of sex workers through an inclusive and rights-based approach.

    Sex Work, Stigmatization, and Political Action: Social Representations and Demands toward the State · 2026 · DOI

  • The study identifies a gap in understanding the social and political representations of sex work in Peru. It highlights the need to analyze the impact of stigmatization on public policies and the lives of sex workers. The research gap includes the lack of comprehensive policies to address the vulnerability of sex workers.

    Sex Work, Stigmatization, and Political Action: Social Representations and Demands toward the State · 2026 · DOI

  • The paper identifies a gap in the understanding of abortion-law attitudes among female sex workers in Colombo. The study highlights the importance of examining abortion-law attitudes among female sex workers. The study notes that prior work has focused on the general population and female factory workers, but not specifically on female sex workers.

    Abortion-law Attitudes and Correlates Among Female Sex Workers in Colombo: A Cross-sectional Community-based Study with Contextual Comparisons to Other Female Populations · 2026 · DOI

  • 'Further research should explore the intersection of gender with other identity characteristics in policy mobilities studies.' - 'A more comprehensive analysis including a wider range of data sources could be conducted.'

    Policy mobilities and gender: a case study of the influence of the ‘Swedish model’ on Northern Ireland’s sex work policy · 2026 · DOI

  • The paper identifies a gap in addressing gender within policy mobilities studies. It points out that issues such as age, disability, sexuality, and their intersections with gender have also received little attention.

    Policy mobilities and gender: a case study of the influence of the ‘Swedish model’ on Northern Ireland’s sex work policy · 2026 · DOI

  • Investigate the intersection of age, class, disability, ethnicity, sexuality and other identity characteristics within policy mobilities, - Examine the role of gender in other policy mobility cases

    Policy mobilities and gender: a case study of the influence of the ‘Swedish model’ on Northern Ireland’s sex work policy · 2026 · DOI

  • The lack of discussion on gender in policy mobilities research. The limited attention to the intersections of age, disability, sexuality, and other identity characteristics with gender in policy mobilities studies. The need for a more nuanced understanding of the role of gender in shaping policies.

    Policy mobilities and gender: a case study of the influence of the ‘Swedish model’ on Northern Ireland’s sex work policy · 2026 · DOI

  • In a world-first scoping review, this paper maps emerging empirical research on probation practices with justice-involved people subjected to exploitation and identifies gaps in research to inform policy and practice.

    Human trafficking and probation practice: A scoping review of empirical research · 2026 · DOI

  • Not much is known about how women experience the intersecting dimensions of criminal justice, immigration and modern slavery as victim-survivors.

    Understanding the criminalisation of race and gender in modern slavery and human trafficking: Towards a national strategy for probation · 2026 · DOI

  • Race, gender and social marginalisation remain strong risk factors for trafficking and much remains to be done by the probation service to support victim-survivors of modern slavery and human trafficking.

    Understanding the criminalisation of race and gender in modern slavery and human trafficking: Towards a national strategy for probation · 2026 · DOI

  • Unlike research on the aftermath of Prohibition in the United States post‐1933, decriminalization of casino gambling in Nevada post‐1931, and legalization of cannabis, little is known about the effects of legalizing prostitution.

    Flawed research on the impact of law reform: The case of legal prostitution and sex trafficking, a research note · 2025 · DOI

  • Drug crime among Taiwanese women and juvenile girls is a major problem; however, most prior studies are limited to adults and have undervalued the females’ agency in terminating drug use.

    “Their storylines and their hopes” an exploratory study on the hope of termination in drug use among adjudicated females in Taiwan · 2025 · DOI

  • Sex workers are a marginalized group that often faces a heightened risk of experiencing violence, however little is known from the perspectives of sex workers in Ethiopia.

    “Many People Do Not Consider Us Human” Violence Against Commercial Sex Workers in Gondar City: A Phenomenological Study · 2025 · DOI

  • This paper fills this gap in the literature by examining the prevalence and determinants of self reported sexually transmitted infection (STI) status among AGYW in the ASM gold mining sectors of Uganda.

    Determinants of sexually transmitted infections among adolescent girls and young women in artisanal and small-scale mining communities of Uganda · 2025 · DOI

  • Given the limited literature on Blesser partnerships, we investigated women’s implicit and explicit negotiated rewards and their perceived risk and ability to employ risk mitigation strategies, utilizing risk as a sociological concept to enhance understanding of risks women assume, and subsequent gendered implications.

    Balancing risk and reward: exploring women’s transactional sexual relationships with Blessers in South Africa · 2024 · DOI

  • BACKGROUND: Sex trafficking is highly prevalent, pernicious, and under-recognized.

    From not knowing, to knowing more needs to be done: health care providers describe the education they need to care for sex trafficked patients · 2024 · DOI

  • BACKGROUND: There is currently limited knowledge about HIV prevention and treatment cascades among female sex workers (FSW) in Ghana.

    HIV prevention and treatment cascades among female sex workers in Ghana: gaps and priorities that should be addressed by the national programme · 2024 · DOI

  • The major limitation to this survey was the low return rate for the mailed questionnaire.

    Scope and nature of sexual harassment in nursing · 1987 · DOI

  • Whether genital herpes will continue to be stigmatized in American society remains to be seen.

    GENITAL HERPES: AN ETHNOGRAPHIC INQUIRY INTO BEING DISCREDITABLE IN AMERICAN SOCIETY · 1986 · DOI

  • HIV-related stigma, lack of appropriate information, and issues regarding eligibility are key barriers to PrEP uptake among sex workers. The criminalization of sex work exacerbates adverse health outcomes by reinforcing SWs' reluctance to seek care and assert their rights.

    Barriers and Enabling Factors for Taking PrEP: The Lived Perspectives of Female, Male and Transgender Sex Workers in Thailand · 2026 · DOI

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351 open questions have been extracted from the limitations and future-work passages of 3,984 Sex work and related issues papers in our library. Each one below links back to the study that raised it, so you can read the original claim in context.

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