Gillian Abel
Gillian Abel | |
|---|---|
| Born | South Africa |
| Alma mater | Cape Peninsula University of Technology; University of Otago |
| Occupation(s) | Researcher, academic |
| Years active | 1997–present |
| Known for | Research on sex work, public health, and marginalized populations |
| Notable work | Taking the crime out of sex work: New Zealand sex workers' fight for decriminalisation (2010); Sex work and the New Zealand model: Decriminalisation and social change (2020) |
Gillian Abel is a researcher specializing in public health from New Zealand and, as of 2021, serves as the head of the Department of Population Health at the University of Otago located in Christchurch.
Education
Abel obtained a diploma from the Cape Peninsula University of Technology in Cape Town before relocating to New Zealand in 1997 to join the University of Otago. She earned her PhD at Otago in 2010, presenting a dissertation entitled Decriminalisation: A harm minimisation and human rights approach to regulating sex work.
Career
Initially working in hematology, Abel transitioned her focus towards public health. In December 2019, she was elevated to the rank of full professor within Otago’s Department of Population Health, with the appointment taking effect in February 2020. She currently leads the department as its head.
Her research primarily addresses marginalized groups such as sex workers, youth, and Pacific populations. Abel directed a major study funded by the Health Research Council investigating the effects of the Prostitution Reform Act 2003 on the lives of sex workers, contributing to policy discussions both within New Zealand and abroad.
Research Interests
- Investigations into sex work emphasizing stigma reduction, decriminalization, and societal transformation
- Physical and sexual health concerns among young people
- Participatory research conducted with street-based sex workers within community settings
- Employment rights related to sex work and regulation of brothels
- Efforts to reduce stigma associated with HIV/AIDS and improve related healthcare interactions
Books
- Taking the crime out of sex work: New Zealand sex workers' fight for decriminalisation (2010), Policy Press
- Sex work and the New Zealand model: Decriminalisation and social change (2020), Bristol University Press
Journal articles
- Abel, G.M., Thompson, L. (2017). "I don't want to look like an AIDS victim": A New Zealand case study of facial lipoatrophy. Health & Social Care in the Community, 26(1), 41-47.
- Abel, G. (2018). Decriminalisation of sex work protects human rights. The BMJ, 362, k3630.
- McKerchar, C., Smith, M., Gage, R., Williman, J., Abel, G.M., Lacey, C., Ní Mhurchú, C., Signal, L. (2020). Kids in a Candy Store: An Objective Analysis of Children's Interactions with Food in Convenience Stores. Nutrients, 12(7), 2143.