What’s in a name? Public perceptions of sex work professionals are differentially influenced by terminology

People in the sex work industry are confronted with stigmatization, violence, and other issues 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 examined public perceptions of sex industry workers. Participants rated either the term sex worker, escort, prostitute, or hooker on measures reflecting how participants viewed people associated with these terms. Participants perceived the terms sex worker and escort more positively than prostitute and hooker, giving credence to the movement to refer to those in the sex work industry as sex workers to reduce stigmatization.