The research enterprise

This part introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters. The part details how policy and funding streams direct the research enterprise through preferred pedagogical, theoretical, and empirical lenses that limit the scope of critical inquiry. It builds on a rich historical tradition of autobiographical writings by women in the sex industry to explore how street-involved women’s writings, while rare, offer great potential for the democratization of, and critical reflection on, the knowledge production process. The part explores the ethical and pragmatic dimensions of designing and conducting research with minors in the sex industry by discussing the tensions, contradictions, practicalities, and lessons learned in a successfully completed project. It utilises a case study approach to analyze the strengths and weaknesses participatory methods offer to this field by linking scientific research and socio-political intervention.