What's in a Name? Public Perceptions of Sex Worker Professionals Are Differentially Influenced by Terminology

People in the sex work industry are confronted with stigmatization and prejudice related to their work. A movement regarding the terminology of those in the industry focuses on the work-oriented aspect of the profession, rather than confounding the work with sexual identity, morality, and coercion, which in turn, might reduce stigma. Yet, lay perceptions of these professionals are often negative, and may vary depending on the language used to describe sex workers. The current research used survey instruments to examine public perceptions of sex industry workers. Participants (n = 386) rated a term used to describe these professionals (sex worker, escort, prostitute, or hooker) on measures reflecting perceived demographics of these professionals and how participants viewed people associated with these terms. Demographic stereotypes indicated that participants estimated higher levels of Black involvement in sex work relative to their estimates of Black individuals in the broader U.S. population. The opposite was found for White involvement. Participants perceived the terms sex worker and escort less negatively than prostitute and hooker, giving credence to the movement to refer to those in the sex work industry as sex workers to reduce stigmatization.