University of York – Sex Work Studies and History Workshop [In-person and Online]
30 January 2026

The University of York is hosting a hybrid workshop on 20th March 2026. Available to scholars, students, and those in related fields. Free to attend whether in-person or joining online. Full details and how to apply to the workshop: Sex Work Studies & History Workshop – Department of English and Related Literature, University of York

The event will open with a talk from NUM CEO, Lynsey Walton:

From moral panic to modern policy: how sex work continues to be misunderstood

Debates around sex work are often framed as contemporary policy or moral dilemmas, yet many of the underlying assumptions made have deep historical roots around the world. This talk traces the journey of past and present ways of thinking about sex work and how these persist in modern public perception, research and legislation. 

We will combine reflection on how we got here with present day policy and lived  experience expertise to highlight how inherited frameworks continue to shape  decision making today. It will encourage attendees to consider how disciplinary traditions influence what is seen, studied and acted upon – and what remains invisible.

Event contact: ezra.horbury@york.ac.uk