From Stigma to Inclusion: Rethinking Cultural Citizenship of Sex Workers in China

The traditional concept of citizenship, rooted in T. H. Marshall's framework, has now expanded to the cultural realm, encompassing the struggles for integration and identity recognition by marginalized groups such as ethnic minorities, racial groups, and sexual minorities. Sex workers, as one of the most marginalized groups, face significant barriers in their quest for full citizenship rights. This paper reviews the cultural expansion of citizenship and the citizenship status of sex workers in China, using cultural citizenship as a novel lens to analyze their cultural rights within the context of China's prostitution policies. It highlights how the state systematically deprives sex workers of their cultural citizenship rights through policy, thereby affecting their social integration. By exploring the relationship between sex workers' cultural citizenship and social inclusion, the study reveals that barriers to cultural expression and participation perpetuate the stigma attached to sex workers and hinder their social integration. The paper calls on policymakers to recognize these challenges and promote cultural inclusion for sex workers in China. Ultimately, it underscores the necessity of acknowledging the cultural rights of sex workers as an important step in reducing stigma and building a more inclusive society.