Sex work under conditions of sexual and gender marginalization in Türkiye: an intersectional study of sexual and gender minority experiences

This study examines the lived experiences of sexual and gender minority (SGM) sex workers in Türkiye through an intersectional lens, revealing how structural inequalities shape identity, survival, and marginalization. Drawing on in-depth interviews with 15 participants, the research explores how overlapping forms of discrimination -rooted in gender identity, sexual orientation, and sex work status- intersect across housing, employment, education, healthcare, and public space. The analysis employs Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis and thematic coding to illuminate how violence, exclusion, and institutional neglect are not isolated experiences but part of a cumulative, structurally embedded reality. Findings demonstrate that sex work emerges not merely as an economic strategy, but as a relational and embodied process intertwined with identity formation and resistance. Participants rely heavily on peer networks and Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) support, while facing systemic barriers in accessing formal protection and services. By centering intersectionality as both a conceptual and methodological framework, the study advances critical social work perspectives and contributes to the development of equity-focused interventions. The research highlights the urgency of inclusive, rights-based social policies that acknowledge the structural determinants of vulnerability and advocate for dignity, safety, and autonomy for SGM sex workers. The study offers practical implications for social work education, service delivery, and policy reform in Türkiye and similar socio-political contexts.