The Business of Bodies: How Legal Frameworks Shape the Lives of Nevada's Sex Workers

Nevada is the only U.S. state to permit legal prostitution, yet the systems that regulate its brothels often fall short in protecting sex workers' rights and well-being. This paper draws on 14 interviews with sex workers, brothel owners, and county officials across Nevada to examine how legalized prostitution shapes workers' experiences through economic, social, and health-based lenses. Findings reveal that while legalization offers some safety and structure, inconsistent regulations, exclusionary hiring practices, high entry costs, and lingering social stigma limit its benefits. Workers often face unclear policies, limited bargaining power, and barriers to healthcare access—particularly transgender and male sex workers. Interviewees also highlighted gaps in sexual health education and uneven enforcement of state mandates. These insights underscore the limitations of partial formalization and point to opportunities for regulatory reform that centers worker dignity, inclusivity, and autonomy within the legal sex industry.