It has been noted that "there are few areas in the social sciences which have generated as much anecdotal evidence, opinion, general musing, moral outrage, and theorizing" as prostitution. This article argues that these are not the only deficiencies in the literature on prostitution and other sex work and suggests remedial measures to help overcome some serious problems in the field and to fill some major gaps in the literature. It appears that there is significant variation both between and within the categories of street and indoor prostitution in at least five respects: stratification, control over working conditions, work experiences, adjustment to their work, and impact on the community. More research is needed in those areas as well as on telephone sex work, off-street prostitutes of all kinds, the porn industry, gay and lesbian pornography, legal prostitution systems, the dynamics of law enforcement, and the forces influencing law and public policy. Table, notes, references