People view the term “sex worker” much more positively than “prostitute” or “hooker”
New research published in The Journal of Sex Research suggests that the specific words used to describe people in the commercial sex industry shape how the public views them. The findings provide evidence that terms like “sex worker” and “escort” carry less stigma and are viewed more positively than words like “prostitute” and “hooker.” This implies that shifting the language used in media and legal settings might help reduce prejudice against these professionals. Researchers conducted the study to better understand the powerful role that language plays in shaping societal stigma. “This research is quite personal to me, actually. I spent years doing volunteer work for a non-profit aimed at providing support and care for sex workers (shout out to The Cupcake Girls),” said Sarah Lindley, lead statistician at the University of Michigan Medical School. “I learned a lot about the industry and experiences of sex workers, and as a researcher, I was surprised by the lack of literature related to how people respond to various terms used for sex workers, given the importance of terminology!” …
