WEEK 11: Money and Sex

This week is, as the syllabus and the title of this blog post indicate, all about the connection between money and sex, a taboo subject which, as the authors of chapters 7 through 9 in Ditmore make clear, has frequently been overlooked in research (feminist or otherwise) on sex workers, sex work, and the global sex industry. The authors collectively point out that research on sex work has more often than not focused on the “sex” and not the “work.” They argue that shifting the conversation (as well as the research questions) toward the “work” will yield important discoveries about the importance of money that “can revolutionize the way we understand sex work, and draw important connections to other forms of labor” (Ditmore 5).

Ironically, as Monet points out (in Nagle, p. 219), money and sex are also the two things around which legislation and/or cultural tradition (s) have historically been created and enforced to restrict women’s activities. So why is it that mainstream feminists (particularly abolitionists) have refused to take a look at the global sex industry through the lens of money, economics, neo-liberal globalization, and the migration for work that these international economic processes necessitate?

Some thoughts on Option #2 of the Term Project

Before we get into the nitty gritty of this week’s materials, though, it occurred to me as I was reading chapter 7 in Ditmore that this piece is a nice example of a literature review, or a survey of literature, that’s required for option #2 of the Term Project. In this chapter, Willman offers a short and general discussion of why some economists have only recently begun researching the global sex industry and the sorts of questions they’re asking about it. She then includes other scholars who, although not economists, have considered the economic dimensions of sex work in their research. She ends by identifying a gap in the literature (the voices and experiences of sex workers themselves) and encourages scholars to ask questions about “what money really means to sex workers” by asking them (146).

The importance of money

And that’s where we’ll begin this week: By thinking about what money really means to sex workers, and why. What influence does money have on a person’s entry into the sex industry? And what part does it play in their decision to stay in or leave the profession? By focusing on the “work” part of sex work, we shift our thinking to the largely unexamined fact that, as Weldon points out, “[p]rostitutes aren’t just having sex; they are having sex for money” (151). And since this is “the simple exchange every other laborer makes—doing something relatively undesirable for compensation,” why is it that sex work, but not other forms of labour, is considered deviant (151)?

The other thing to think about here is the global economic context: Globally, women earn significantly less money than men in “women’s” jobs that are centred on caring, cleaning, clerical work, cashiering and catering. These are jobs that are underpaid, undervalued and usually involve exceptionally long hours and no benefits (such as vacation leave, sick time, and unemployment, disability and health insurance). These jobs often offer no opportunity for career advancement and, consequently, no opportunity for increased wages. As I’ve said before, most people in the world are poor, and most of those people are women. And their poverty isn’t their fault, nor is their lack of sustainable and viable opportunities for earning money to support themselves and their families.

But, as we’ve read, and as Petro’s interviews with a variety of sex workers demonstrate, not all women who enter the sex industry do so out of dire financial need; although, the need/desire for money is what they have in common with poor women who choose sex work (chapter 9 in Ditmore).

This need/desire for money is what drives the “bad whore” stigma, which is discussed in Nagle’s Section 4 along with areas of the sex industry that remain clouded in silence and myth. This section illuminates some of the benefits of sex work as well as some of the more complex political implications of sex work.

As you’re reading and preparing for class this week, keep in mind the following questions:

1.      In what specific ways are researchers’ positionalities (review Agustin in Ditmore, 23-27) revealed through the questions they tend to ask sex workers? According to Weldon’s chapter in Ditmore, how do these ideologically-laden questions skew research results and also, as a consequence, what people think they know about sex workers?

2.      Using specific evidence from our reading from this week (and previous weeks, if appropriate), discuss the working conditions of sex workers, including their day-to-day preparations for work, their treatment and status at work, and how they’re treated by various constituencies (such as law enforcement officials) outside of work.

3.      Where do RACISM and WHITE SUPREMACY come into play in the sex industry? Consider the experiences of women of colour and migrant sex workers as discussed by Petro in Ditmore and Aaren, et al in Nagle.

4.      In what ways is sex work the same as other kinds of labour that is done predominantly by women? In way ways is it different? What are the pros and cons of sex work?

Two Reminders

Don’t forget about my office hours if you have any questions, would like to brainstorm about the Term Project, or just want to chat!

Also, as always, keep track of your CRPs, which are due at the start of class on Mondays. Details about the assignment can be found here. Be sure to include all the required components as described and also remember to bring a copy to submit to me as well as a copy for yourself so that you can refer to it during class.

I’ll see you all in class! In the meantime, happy reading, and please don’t hesitate to stop by during my office hours or e-mail me at kawilliams(at)mtroyal.ca if you have any questions.