Exporting Sexköpslagen: Sweden, Sex Work, and the Moral Stakes of Externalizing Feminist Policy

The article examines the Swedish policy of Sexköpslagen, which criminalizes the purchase but not the sale of sex, and its global promotion as a feminist policy. It explores the moral and epistemic politics behind the policy's advocacy, including the selective use of evidence and the exclusion of sex worker perspectives. The author argues that the policy, while presented as a feminist success, has adverse effects on sex workers, particularly migrants. The article highlights the disconnect between the policy's international praise and its domestic impacts, raising questions about the true beneficiaries of Sweden's feminist statecraft. By analyzing the experiences of sex workers and the political dynamics behind the policy, the article offers a critical perspective on the intersection of feminist theory and policy implementation.