Political Economy of Embodiment: Capitalizing on Globally Staged Bodies in Nigerian Beauty Pageants and Vietnamese Sex Work

How do various stakeholders capitalize off of display workers’ bodies? This article uses a comparative-case approach to examine two different sites—beauty pageants in Nigeria and high-end sex workers in Vietnam—where women’s bodies are differentially staged with varying degrees of visibility. Theoretically, this article develops the concept of political economy of embodiment to account for a network of people onstage, backstage, and offstage who capitalize off displayed bodies in qualitatively different ways. Beauty pageants in Nigeria take place on highly visible national and global stages. Contestants’ bodies signal African beauty as being fashion-forward, which propels and integrates Nigeria into international arenas of diplomacy and trade. High-end sex workers in Vietnam work on a stage that is hidden from the general public yet open for a select group of Vietnam’s elites. Sex workers’ bodies are on display to project an ideal of Asian ascendancy in Vietnam’s market.

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Sex Work and the City

Political Science Undergraduate Review ◽

10.29173/psur190 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 6 (1) ◽

pp. 6-13

Author(s):

Helen Roitberg

Keyword(s):

Sex Work ◽

Sex Workers ◽

Sexual Exploitation ◽

State Regulation ◽

Indigenous Women ◽

Women's Bodies ◽

Public And Private ◽

Sexual Services ◽

The City ◽

Ongoing Project

Bill C-36, or the Protection of Communities and Exploited Persons Act, which was introduced in Canada in 2014, made the purchase of sexual services illegal. To the end of eliminating sex work, Bill C-36 rests on the premise that sex work is inherently exploitative, and that sex workers and their communities are harmed by the exchange of sexual services. Considering that Indigenous women are overrepresented among sex workers and disproportionately victims of severe violence, this paper examines the goals of Bill C-36 in conversation with Canada’s ongoing project of colonialism. This paper demonstrates that Bill C-36 upholds the systemic devaluation of Indigeneity by which Indigenous women’s bodies are rendered deserving of violence, and by which this violence is normalized and invisibilized. Rather than protect ‘victims’ of sexual exploitation, Bill C-36 relies on the colonial stereotypes of the Indigenous prostitute to reimagine sexually autonomous Indigenous women as inherent threats to (white) Canadian society and themselves, and thereby justify state regulation in both public and private spaces.

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Service Work, Sex Work, and the “Prostitute Imaginary”

South Atlantic Quarterly ◽

10.1215/00382876-9154870 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 120 (3) ◽

pp. 493-514

Author(s):

Annie McClanahan ◽

Jon-David Settell

Keyword(s):

Political Economy ◽

Sex Work ◽

Sex Workers ◽

Service Sector ◽

Structural Features ◽

Service Work ◽

Sex Worker ◽

Piece Rate ◽

Wage Payment ◽

History Of

This article considers the figure of the sex worker across Marxist political economy. Taking up what Melissa Gira Grant terms the “prostitute imaginary,” the authors suggest that from classical political economy to contemporary Marxist-feminist thought, the sex worker has been rhetorically deployed to trouble the boundaries between productive, unproductive, and reproductive work. More recently, the prostitute imaginary has shaped accounts of contemporary service work: in particular, the figure of the sex worker has been used to metaphorize the intimate affects demanded by service work. Rather than use service work to think about the exploitation and coercion that shapes all wage labor under capital, however, such accounts tend to treat service work and sex work as uniquely abject. As a result, they do not attend to the systemic and structural features common to both. The authors take up one of those features in particular: the use of tip-based or piece-rate methods of wage payment. They explore the history of this insecure and informalized wage form not only to track the systematization of hyperexploitation in the service sector, but also to unearth a history of resistance to that exploitation, arguing that service workers and sex workers offer a new and urgent model of revolutionary class consciousness.

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The Double-Edged Sword of Health and Safety: COVID-19 and the Policing and Exclusion of Migrant Asian Massage Workers in North America

Social Sciences ◽

10.3390/socsci10050157 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (5) ◽

pp. 157

Author(s):

Elene Lam ◽

Elena Shih ◽

Katherine Chin ◽

Kate Zen

Keyword(s):

North America ◽

Social Welfare ◽

Human Trafficking ◽

Sex Work ◽

Sex Workers ◽

Interpersonal Violence ◽

Sex Trafficking ◽

The State ◽

Emergency Relief ◽

Sexual Services

Migrant Asian massage workers in North America first experienced the impacts of COVID-19 in the final weeks of January 2020, when business dropped drastically due to widespread xenophobic fears that the virus was concentrated in Chinese diasporic communities. The sustained economic devastation, which began at least 8 weeks prior to the first social distancing and shelter in place orders issued in the U.S. and Canada, has been further complicated by a history of aggressive policing of migrant massage workers in the wake of the war against human trafficking. Migrant Asian massage businesses are increasingly policed as locales of potential illicit sex work and human trafficking, as police and anti-trafficking initiatives target migrant Asian massage workers despite the fact that most do not provide sexual services. The scapegoating of migrant Asian massage workers and criminalization of sex work have led to devastating systemic and interpersonal violence, including numerous deportations, arrests, and deaths, most notably the recent murder of eight people at three Atlanta-based spas. The policing of sex workers has historically been mobilized along fears of sexually transmitted disease and infection, and more recently, within the past two decades, around a moral panic against sex trafficking. New racial anxieties around the coronavirus as an Asian disease have been mobilized by the state to further cement the justification of policing Asian migrant workers along the axes of health, migration, and sexual labor. These justifications also solidify discriminatory social welfare regimes that exclude Asian migrant massage workers from accessing services on the basis of the informality and illegality of their work mixed with their precarious citizenship status. This paper draws from ethnographic participant observation and survey data collected by two sex worker organizations that work primarily with massage workers in Toronto and New York City to examine the double-edged sword of policing during the pandemic in the name of anti-trafficking coupled with exclusionary policies regarding emergency relief and social welfare, and its effects on migrant Asian massage workers in North America. Although not all migrant Asian massage workers, including those surveyed in this paper, provide sexual services, they are conflated, targeted, and treated as such by the state and therefore face similar barriers of criminalization, discrimination, and exclusion. This paper recognizes that most migrant Asian massage workers do not identify as sex workers and does not intend to label them as such or reproduce the scapegoating rhetoric used by law enforcement. Rather, it seeks to analyze how exclusionary attitudes and policies towards sex workers are transferred onto migrant Asian massage workers as well whether or not they provide sexual services.

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HIV and STI positivity rates among transgender people attending two large STI clinics in the Netherlands

Sexually Transmitted Infections ◽

10.1136/sextrans-2020-054875 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. sextrans-2020-054875

Author(s):

Susanne Drückler ◽

Ceranza Daans ◽

Elske Hoornenborg ◽

Henry De Vries ◽

Martin den Heijer ◽

...

Keyword(s):

The Netherlands ◽

Gender Identity ◽

Sex Work ◽

Sexual Behaviour ◽

Sex Workers ◽

Hiv Prevalence ◽

Hiv Positive ◽

Gender Identities ◽

Transgender People ◽

Sexually Transmitted

BackgroundGlobal data show that transgender people (TGP) are disproportionally affected by HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STIs); however, data are scarce for Western European countries. We assessed gender identities, sexual behaviour, HIV prevalence and STI positivity rates, and compared these outcomes between TGP who reported sex work and those who did not.MethodsWe retrospectively retrieved data from all TGP who were tested at the STI clinics of Amsterdam and The Hague, the Netherlands in 2017–2018. To identify one’s gender identity, a ‘two-step’ methodology was used assessing, first, the assigned gender at birth (assigned male at birth (AMAB)) or assigned female at birth), and second, clients were asked to select one gender identity that currently applies: (1) transgender man/transgender woman, (2) man and woman, (3) neither man nor woman, (4) other and (5) not known yet. HIV prevalence, bacterial STI (chlamydia, gonorrhoea and/or infectious syphilis) positivity rates and sexual behaviour were studied using descriptive statistics.ResultsTGP reported all five categories of gender identities. In total 273 transgender people assigned male at birth (TGP-AMAB) (83.0%) and 56 transgender people assigned female at birth (TGP-AFAB) (17.0%) attended the STI clinics. Of TGP-AMAB, 14,6% (39/267, 95% CI 10.6% to 19.4%) were HIV-positive, including two new diagnoses and bacterial STI positivity was 15.0% (40/267, 95% CI 10.9% to 19.8%). Among TGP-AFAB, bacterial STI positivity was 5.6% (3/54, 95% CI 1.2% to 15.4%) and none were HIV-positive. Sex work in the past 6 months was reported by 53.3% (137/257, 95% CI 47.0% to 59.5%) of TGP-AMAB and 6.1% (3/49, 95% CI 1.3% to 16.9%) of TGP-AFAB. HIV prevalence did not differ between sex workers and non-sex workers.ConclusionOf all TGP, the majority were TGP-AMAB of whom more than half engaged in sex work. HIV prevalence and STI positivity rates were substantial among TGP-AMAB and much lower among TGP-AFAB. Studies should be performed to provide insight into whether the larger population of TGP-AMAB and TGP-AFAB are at risk of HIV and STI.

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It’s Not Just Sex: Relational Dynamics between Street-Based Sex Workers and Their Regular Customers

Work Employment and Society ◽

10.1177/09500170211021723 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 095001702110217

Author(s):

Sharon S Oselin ◽

Katie Hail-Jares

Keyword(s):

Sex Work ◽

Sex Workers ◽

Service Industry ◽

Washington Dc ◽

Work Practices ◽

Considerable Time ◽

Economic Stability ◽

Relational Dynamics ◽

Relational Work ◽

Boundary Setting

Establishing regular customers is an integral aspect of any service industry since they can increase profits and referrals. Most research on regulars within sex work focuses on indoor, high-end workers, who cultivate them through relational work practices. Yet very little is known about whether street-based sex workers employ these same tactics or even seek out regulars. This article draws upon interviews with 36 street-based sex workers in Washington, DC, USA. Sex workers dedicate considerable time and effort in order to retain regulars via relational work, noting such customers offer greater economic stability and fewer risks. Relational work also has disadvantages, exacerbated by the illicit and illegal nature of this work. Street-based sex workers navigate boundary setting and slippage as a part of retaining or rejecting regular clients. These findings have implications for policies that can reduce harms for sex workers and enhance their protections.

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The Impact of the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) on the Health and Social Needs of Sex Workers in Singapore

Archives of Sexual Behavior ◽

10.1007/s10508-021-01951-8 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Rayner Kay Jin Tan ◽

Vanessa Ho ◽

Sherry Sherqueshaa ◽

Wany Dee ◽

Jane Mingjie Lim ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Food Insecurity ◽

Sex Work ◽

Sex Workers ◽

Social Needs ◽

Medical Services ◽

Substantial Impact ◽

Sex Worker ◽

Permanent Resident ◽

The Impact ◽

Depth Interviews

AbstractWe evaluated the impact of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) on the sex work industry and assessed how it has impacted the health and social conditions of sex workers in Singapore. We conducted a sequential exploratory mixed methods study amidst the COVID-19 pandemic from April to October 2020, including in-depth interviews with 24 stakeholders from the sex work industry and surveyor-administered structured surveys with 171 sex workers. COVID-19 had a substantial impact on sex workers' income. The illegality of sex work, stigma, and the lack of work documentation were cited as exclusionary factors for access to alternative jobs or government relief. Sex workers had experienced an increase in food insecurity (57.3%), housing insecurity (32.8%), and sexual compromise (8.2%), as well as a decrease in access to medical services (16.4%). Being transgender female was positively associated with increased food insecurity (aPR = 1.23, 95% CI [1.08, 1.41]), housing insecurity (aPR = 1.28, 95% CI [1.03, 1.60]), and decreased access to medical services (aPR = 1.74, 95% CI [1.23, 2.46]); being a venue-based sex worker was positively associated with increased food insecurity (aPR = 1.46, 95% CI [1.00, 2.13]), and being a non-Singaporean citizen or permanent resident was positively associated with increased housing insecurity (aPR = 2.59, 95% CI [1.73, 3.85]). Our findings suggest that COVID-19 has led to a loss of income for sex workers, greater food and housing insecurity, increased sexual compromise, and reduced access to medical services for sex workers. A lack of access to government relief among sex workers exacerbated such conditions. Efforts to address such population health inequities should be implemented.

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Unfinished Decriminalization: The Impact of Section 19 of the Prostitution Reform Act 2003 on Migrant Sex Workers’ Rights and Lives in Aotearoa New Zealand

Social Sciences ◽

10.3390/socsci10050179 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (5) ◽

pp. 179

Author(s):

Calum Bennachie ◽

Annah Pickering ◽

Jenny Lee ◽

P. G. Macioti ◽

Nicola Mai ◽

...

Keyword(s):

New Zealand ◽

Sex Work ◽

Sex Workers ◽

Interview Data ◽

Aotearoa New Zealand ◽

Fear Of Deportation ◽

Permanent Residency ◽

The Impact

In 2003, Aotearoa New Zealand (NZ) passed the Prostitution Reform Act 2003 (PRA), which decriminalized sex work for NZ citizens and holders of permanent residency (PR) while excluding migrant sex workers (MSWs) from its protection. This is due to Section 19 (s19) of the PRA, added at the last minute against advice by the Aotearoa New Zealand Sex Workers’ Collective (NZPC) as an anti-trafficking clause. Because of s19, migrants on temporary visas found to be working as sex workers are liable to deportation by Immigration New Zealand (INZ). Drawing on original ethnographic and interview data gathered over 24 months of fieldwork, our study finds that migrant sex workers in New Zealand are vulnerable to violence and exploitation, and are too afraid to report these to the police for fear of deportation, corroborating earlier studies and studies completed while we were collecting data.

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Sex Work in Slovenia: Assessing the Needs of Sex Workers

Sociological Research Online ◽

10.1177/13607804211018480 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 136078042110184

Author(s):

Leja Markelj ◽

Alisa Selan ◽

Tjaša Dolinar ◽

Matej Sande

Keyword(s):

Needs Assessment ◽

Sex Work ◽

Sex Workers ◽

Point Of View ◽

Social Distress ◽

Legal Advice ◽

The Law ◽

Client Relations ◽

Insight Into

The research comprehensively identifies the needs and problems of sex workers in Slovenia from the point of view of three groups of actors in a decriminalized setting. The objective of the rapid needs assessment was to identify the needs of sex workers as perceived by themselves. In order to gain a deeper insight into this topic, we analyzed the functioning of the organizations working with the population, and examined the perspective of the clients. The results of the study show that no aid programmes have been developed for sex workers, even though organizations from various fields often come in contact with this population. Sex workers express the need to be informed about various topics (health, the law, legal advice) and emphasize client relations as the primary issue. The findings indicate the need for the development of a specialized aid programmes to address the fields of advocacy, reducing social distress and providing psychosocial assistance.

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Labouring in the Sex Industry: A Conversation with Sex Workers on Consent and Exploitation

Social Sciences ◽

10.3390/socsci10030086 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (3) ◽

pp. 86

Author(s):

Francine Tremblay

Keyword(s):

Sex Work ◽

Sex Workers ◽

Service Industry ◽

Sex Industry ◽

Cultural Symbol

Sex work in all its forms is an occupation that belongs to the service industry, and like any other work, sexual labour is open to exploitation. However, the reason why sex work is seen to be different from other forms of labour is that it betrays the socially accepted rules of love and intimacy and is exercised within a criminalised environment. As a cultural symbol, sex work remains steadfastly linked to aberration and dangerousness. This article juxtaposes the legal and lay definitions of consent and exploitation based on conversations with fourteen Canadian sex workers. The objective of this exploratory article is to delve within two ill-defined and highly contested notions related to the sex industry—consent and exploitation.

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