Journal of Social Equity and Public Administration

Sex Work in Public Administration: Creating a Welcoming Environment

Seth J. Meyer

Bridgewater State University

https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0255-9900

DOI: https://doi.org/10.24926/jsepa.v3i1.5901

Keywords: LGBTQIA, SOGIE, sex work

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Abstract

From both a policy and a social service perspective, sex workers interact with and are impacted by public administration. This study asks how public administration can be more supportive of sex workers within public policy and social services. Using qualitative data from a national survey of over 1,100 LGBTQIA+ individuals in the United States, I explore the experiences of sex workers in receiving social services. In this article, I explain how public administration can support sex workers including everything from the regulation of sex work to facilitating a way out of sex work when desired. To better understand the experiences of sex workers, sex work is divided into voluntary and exploitative. These categories allow us to create policies and design social services that meet the specific needs of workers. Both policy and social service recommendations for public administration are provided.

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Author Biography

Seth J. Meyer, Bridgewater State University

Seth J. Meyer (he/him) (S2MEYER@bridgew.edu) is an Associate Professor of Public Administration in the Department of Political Science at Bridgewater State University. His research focuses on social equity and LGBTQIA+/Queer communities as well as organizational theory and behavior of nonprofit organizations. His edited volume (with Richard Greggory Johnson III), Lessons in Social Equity: A Case Study Book (2022), is available from Birkdale Publishers.

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