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Sex Work Matters: Exploring Money, Power, and Intimacy in the Sex Industry
Sex Work Matters brings together sex workers, scholars and activists to present pioneering essays on the economics and sociology of sex work. From insights by sex workers on how they handle money, intimate relationships and daily harassment by the police, to the experience of male and transgender sex work, this fascinating and original book offers new theoretical frameworks for understanding the sex industry.
The result is a vital new contribution to sex-worker rights that explores the topic in new ways, especially its cultural, economic and political dimensions. Readers weary of the sensational and often salacious treatment of the sex industry in the media and literature will find Sex Work Matters refreshing.
The result is a vital new contribution to sex-worker rights that explores the topic in new ways, especially its cultural, economic and political dimensions. Readers weary of the sensational and often salacious treatment of the sex industry in the media and literature will find Sex Work Matters refreshing.
288 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2010
7 people are currently reading
622 people want to read
About the author
Melissa Hope Ditmore
9 books13 followersI’m a freelance consultant specializing in issues of gender, development, health and human rights, particularly as they relate to marginalized populations such as sex workers, migrants and people who use drugs. My past and current clients include the Asia Development Bank, AIDS Fonds Netherlands, and the Sex Workers Project at the Urban Justice Center. I have extensive experience of working on projects both in the United States and in Asia and Africa.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
November 1, 2018
This book is a MUST, especially if you are a feminist (and abolitionists should read about sex work instead of being part of an anti-sex work agenda that at the end leaves sex workers in a much harder position to work).
Many of the chapters in these book were written by academics from the fields of sociology, social psychology, political science, etc. But it also has chapters written by sex workers themselves, so it includes a wide range of voices addressing an issue that has become so relevant, especially now that the laws SESTA/FOSTA are being implemented.
The book also encompasses a broad variety of topics, from how the frameworks for understanding sex work has changed, to how sex work manage their multiple roles, the relations between money and sex, how public policies have an impact on sex work, and finally how sex workers and allies have organized in order to fight for their rights.
Many of the chapters in these book were written by academics from the fields of sociology, social psychology, political science, etc. But it also has chapters written by sex workers themselves, so it includes a wide range of voices addressing an issue that has become so relevant, especially now that the laws SESTA/FOSTA are being implemented.
The book also encompasses a broad variety of topics, from how the frameworks for understanding sex work has changed, to how sex work manage their multiple roles, the relations between money and sex, how public policies have an impact on sex work, and finally how sex workers and allies have organized in order to fight for their rights.
September 30, 2013
Like any compendium, some of the component essays were better than others, and I had times where I felt haunted by what was missing. As someone who has an interest in sex work theories for what feminism might learn from them, I was really pleased to learn this volume exists.
A worthy attempt to address how little rounded scholarship exists on sex work, the compendium also serves to illustrate this point.
The beginning essays were irritating in spelling out much that I think is obvious (but unfortunately, apparently not enough people agree with me): that legalising sex work, listening to sex workers and supporting their demands is the best way to ensure safe living conditions and defeat exploitation.
The sections on money and sex work - and the simple assertion that since sex workers generally choose the profession for the quick and substantial money, maybe researchers should try asking about what attitudes towards money distinguish the sector, was the most interesting. However, it was more a positing of absence and some provocative and interesting questions.
Some chapters, yes "pimping the pueblo" I'm looking at you, made me profoundly grateful I'm no longer in academia, mostly due to the pelt-on postmodernist lingo, to convey ideas I thought were rather thin.
Others, such as the analysis of the implementation of se work legalisation in Germany, were simply fascinating, but referred obliquely to other "obvious" research that wasn't included.
At it's heart, most feminist debates around sex work centre on the same, age-old question: is working in the sex industry inherently harmful to women? By it's nature, this question implies a binary answer, and tends to encourage all experiences of sex work to be hastily homogenised, or possibly divided into two or three categories, a nod to race and class. It also puts the sex worker in the position of lab rat, constantly subject to the academic equivalent of the kindly uncle who says "But are you *really* alright?"
Hiding behind that question, of course, is the one we feminists barely dare to utter, because of the implications. "Are we stuck with this highly gendered commodified industry? Is this is as good as it gets? And what does that say about gender relations?"
But all these big questions need company. Lots of little questions, about money, and class, how laws worked and how they didn't, trafficking and sex work migration, drug use and organised crime. This book starts to ask those questions, and even, on occasion, the hint at an answer.
A worthy attempt to address how little rounded scholarship exists on sex work, the compendium also serves to illustrate this point.
The beginning essays were irritating in spelling out much that I think is obvious (but unfortunately, apparently not enough people agree with me): that legalising sex work, listening to sex workers and supporting their demands is the best way to ensure safe living conditions and defeat exploitation.
The sections on money and sex work - and the simple assertion that since sex workers generally choose the profession for the quick and substantial money, maybe researchers should try asking about what attitudes towards money distinguish the sector, was the most interesting. However, it was more a positing of absence and some provocative and interesting questions.
Some chapters, yes "pimping the pueblo" I'm looking at you, made me profoundly grateful I'm no longer in academia, mostly due to the pelt-on postmodernist lingo, to convey ideas I thought were rather thin.
Others, such as the analysis of the implementation of se work legalisation in Germany, were simply fascinating, but referred obliquely to other "obvious" research that wasn't included.
At it's heart, most feminist debates around sex work centre on the same, age-old question: is working in the sex industry inherently harmful to women? By it's nature, this question implies a binary answer, and tends to encourage all experiences of sex work to be hastily homogenised, or possibly divided into two or three categories, a nod to race and class. It also puts the sex worker in the position of lab rat, constantly subject to the academic equivalent of the kindly uncle who says "But are you *really* alright?"
Hiding behind that question, of course, is the one we feminists barely dare to utter, because of the implications. "Are we stuck with this highly gendered commodified industry? Is this is as good as it gets? And what does that say about gender relations?"
But all these big questions need company. Lots of little questions, about money, and class, how laws worked and how they didn't, trafficking and sex work migration, drug use and organised crime. This book starts to ask those questions, and even, on occasion, the hint at an answer.
June 5, 2019
Feminist debates about #sexwork can quickly homogenize the profession and get stuck on the same question: is it inherently harmful to women?
It is clear to us that legalizing sex work and listening to all sex workers helps us to understand their needs and demands. This allows for the safest possible working conditions thus minimizing the exploitation that is rife within the industry.
Sex Work Matters contains chapters written by sex workers, scholars and activists, to explore the economical and sociological aspects of sex work. Sex workers share insights on how they handle the financial aspect of their job, as well as managing intimate relationships with all the stigma surrounding their work and the daily harassment from police. Offering case studies from all corners of the world, SWM is a worthy contribution to literature on sex-worker rights.
Review written by Louise Binns, founder of The FBC Paris.
It is clear to us that legalizing sex work and listening to all sex workers helps us to understand their needs and demands. This allows for the safest possible working conditions thus minimizing the exploitation that is rife within the industry.
Sex Work Matters contains chapters written by sex workers, scholars and activists, to explore the economical and sociological aspects of sex work. Sex workers share insights on how they handle the financial aspect of their job, as well as managing intimate relationships with all the stigma surrounding their work and the daily harassment from police. Offering case studies from all corners of the world, SWM is a worthy contribution to literature on sex-worker rights.
Review written by Louise Binns, founder of The FBC Paris.
Read
September 11, 2022Because this is so dated, I wouldn't really recommend it, but it can still be very useful of course. Revolting prostitutes is a very good book for a precise and updated look at the sex industry, if that's something you're looking for.
One of the essays, "To love honor and strip" remains CRUCIALLY relevant and is very much worth a read. It's all about the male partners of female strippers and how they fail to empathize with their own girlfriends, and instead see her as their property (ah patriarchy), and put themselves in the shoes of the CLIENTS. The fucking clients you guys.
The men horrifically failed to sympathize with their girlfriends and behaved just as insufferably and possessive as the clients. Definitely worth a read, and so depressing to read it now in 2022 and resonate with its relevance. Patriarchy has its claws on everything.
One of the essays, "To love honor and strip" remains CRUCIALLY relevant and is very much worth a read. It's all about the male partners of female strippers and how they fail to empathize with their own girlfriends, and instead see her as their property (ah patriarchy), and put themselves in the shoes of the CLIENTS. The fucking clients you guys.
The men horrifically failed to sympathize with their girlfriends and behaved just as insufferably and possessive as the clients. Definitely worth a read, and so depressing to read it now in 2022 and resonate with its relevance. Patriarchy has its claws on everything.
August 15, 2019
As someone with very little background knowledge on sex work, I found this book to informative and captivating. Each chapter has numerous references and I’d highly recommend it.
December 22, 2011
Substantial contribution to contemporary writing on sex work.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews