Giulia Garofalo

Dr Giulia Garofalo

Small Group Project 2024-25

Building evidentiary basis and research capacity on sex work in Italy through participatory anti-oppressive methods

This project is concerned with the changing nature of commercial sex in Europe, competing policy approaches to regulate the phenomenon, and the limited scientific evidence on the extent, experiences and needs of those involved in it. We approach our investigation of these aspects with a focus on Italy. With a national prostitution law that was passed over 60 years ago, one of the oldest sex worker movements in the world, widespread punitive local-level anti-prostitution measures, and one of the earliest and most comprehensive measures to support victims of trafficking in Europe, Italy represents an especially rich, yet often overlooked case for the analysis of prostitution policies and practices.

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Areas of interest

Sociology Gender Sexuality Intersectionality Inequality Italy Reproductive Work Migration Trafficking Disability Class

Cohort

FG10

Biography

Giulia Garofalo Geymonat is a sociologist specialised in gender and sexuality, with a specific attention to intersectional inequalities and solid research and teaching experience both in Italy and internationally. Her research engages with theory while at the same time being empirically grounded and policy oriented. Her areas of expertise are reproductive work, migration/trafficking and disabilities.

Thanks to extensive training in social sciences (University of East London), and in gender studies (London School of Economics and Political Science, University of Utrecht, and University of Linköping), her long-term interest in researching stigmatized communities and their collective organisations has led her to develop a deep commitment to the study of intersectional inequalities - in particular with regards to gender, sexual orientation, migration, disability and class - and has motivated her to use collaborative research methods.

Biographical details correct as of 09.07.25