Victim-blaming in sexual violence against sex workers: a systematic review

Sex workers face higher risks of sexual violence and victim-blaming than the general population, yet this intersection remains underexplored. This systematic review synthesizes existing literature on victim-blaming of sex workers and examines contributing factors. A systematic review (CRD42024579705) was conducted using Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, and PsycInfo to identify peer-reviewed articles in English and Spanish, with no time restrictions. Study quality was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Of 80 studies identified, 10 met inclusion criteria. Sex workers were more often blamed for their victimization than general population, seen as less credible, and viewed as deserving of violence. Victim-blaming was linked to poorer mental health and lower rates of reporting or help-seeking. Factors contributing to higher victim-blaming included being male, no trauma history, support for sex work criminalization, and endorsing sex work-related myths. Findings underscore the need for interventions targeting myths and stereotypes through societal and professional education.