The Sexwork in the 21st century meeting was intended to bring the topic
closer to the interest of sociology of law after the success with which
the session on prostitution met at RCSL12 meeting during the ISA World
Congress in Yokohama. The papers dealt with a wide array of issues from
the historical universals of the public narrative of prostitution to
the peculiarities of legislative controversies currently under way in
countries as different as Canada or Czechia. As with other human conduct
a hot debate emerged on whether this is a subject for quantification
for research purposes. There is no single view on paid sex and this was
evidenced in our discussions but certainly there was agreement as to
the need for the intercultural and international exchange of
perspectives and experience. The important point was raised that between
the letter and silence of national law on the matter, there are always
some definite practical policies at the local level that themselves
raise legal issues. Another focus was on the conceptual ambiguity that
surrounds this sphere of life, that only seems from its appearance that
it may be amenable to strict delimitation.
