Virtual Summit Submission

University of Washington
Urban Social Control

Biography

Hi, my name is Rhonda Newton. I’m a track and field athlete and a first-generation college student. I grew up in Tacoma, WA, and have been here ever since!

Project

A Comparative Study of the Social Control of Sex Work
For my research project, I am conducting a comparative analysis of sex work policies in Seattle, Washington, and Amsterdam, Netherlands. My primary research question is: Which legal framework better protects the rights and well-being of sex workers, Seattle’s partial decriminalization model or Amsterdam’s legalization and regulation approach? Seattle has a system of partial decriminalization, where only the buyer is criminalized while the sex worker is not. In contrast, Amsterdam follows a legalization model, removing penalties for sex work but imposing strict government regulations and oversight.
The objective of this project is to examine how each system impacts sex workers safety, autonomy, and access to rights and services. The research is grounded in theories of harm reduction, regulatory policy, and human rights. My research includes a review of academic literature, analysis of municipal codes and recent policy documents, and qualitative fieldwork. I began by reviewing scholarly articles, official websites, and city council legislation to understand the legal context and enforcement practices in both cities. I then conducted observations and interviews with sex workers and stakeholders in Seattle, with plans to replicate this fieldwork in Amsterdam. Through this comparative approach, I aim to provide evidence-based insights into which legal model offers greater protection and empowerment for sex workers, while also highlighting the problems of each system.