My Body, My Business: New Zealand sex workers in an era of change

by Caren Wilton, Madeleine Marie Slavick (Photographs)

In My Body, My Business , eleven New Zealand sex workers speak in their own voices about their lives in and out of the sex industry. Based on a series of oral history interviews, the book includes the stories of female, male, and transgender workers, upmarket brothels, escorts, strippers, private workers, and dominatrices. Caren Wilton prefaces the book with an introductory essay about the New Zealand sex industry, which in recent times has seen a lot of changes, the most profound being the decriminalization of prostitution in 2003. This engaging and highly readable book looks at what the changes have meant for the nation’s sex workers.

Genres: Nonfiction, Feminism, History

286 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 2019

Reviews

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting glimpse into a period of time in my country, and gives a whole new respect for the people that have really rebelled and rallied to create change. Also interesting examples of how no two people will have the same experience of the same thing.
Very important part of NZ history and who better to tell it than the people in the thick of it.

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent. Really interesting. Brilliant capture of oral histories into a book.

[Grace Green · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is truely a work of art. Wilton presents such a complex and authentic tapestry of sex work in Aotearoa. She captures a variety of experiences from such a wide range of people. I adored that you can hear each persons voice ringing through in their chapters. I really felt it most strongly in the vocabulary each person reached for.

I learnt a lot from this book and it's made me appreciate just how recent a lot of the legal and cultural changes have been. I am grateful to live in a New Zealand that protects its sex workers.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a glimpse into the world of sex work.

[Mikayla Horne · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was interesting to read about the history of sex work in New Zealand. I enjoyed getting that insight into before decriminalisation but I would have liked if some younger people were featured, everyone in here is from a complete different generation from me, the youngest was born a year a before my mum. That being said was inclusive in other ways, sharing perspectives of men, women, cis, trans, Māori and Pakeha.

Important, insightful read that I would definitely recommend. But I guess the people who really should read this never will.

[Kelsey Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book and how much I learned. I would’ve loved to hear the perspective of someone less than 30 years of age, who’s only known decimalization, a police officers view when the law changed (going from hating/harassing a group of people to actively communicating and protecting) and a client. Overall great read!

[Sofie Louise]

The best! Such diverse stories.

[Lauren Levitt · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book. Some of the stories about growing up trans were particularly fascinating.

[Freya Burnett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoughtful well informed and well rounded perspective on sex workers experiences in Aotearoa, A unique perspective on underreported, misunderstood history in Aotearoa. Highly recommend

[Lara Green · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really interesting lives and perspectives in here. Eye opening

[Elle B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Everyone should read this book - very educational and enlightening.