Recommended Reading #127: Sex Work Beyond Stereotypes, Pt. II
“Paying for Sex — And Love” by Tracy Clark-Flory (Sex Work, Research, Sociology, Psychology) 9/14/12
I don’t feel surprised by any of this, but I do find it interesting to see studies or discussions of sex work that are not rife with vitriol, stereotyping, or what seems to me study bias from the outset. This is the kind of thing I appreciate knowing people might be reading and that may subsequently expand perspectives or provoke consideration.
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“Sex Legislation in Measure B and Prop 35″ by Maggie Mayhem (Sex Work, Public Policy, Sex and Culture) 10/15/12
I appreciate Maggie’s articulation here, even as, of course, both measures sadly passed in California. It is probably obvious that I harbor no hesitation whatsoever to oppose Proposition 35; it may seem less obvious given my identification as an active proponent of condom use, including in porn, that I oppose(d) Measure B. However, I do. I may write a longer post of my own on this subject (have had it in draft stages for months!), but the gist is that it does not make sense to me for the government to demand and enforce condom use for the porn industry. I appreciate condom usage in porn because I feel it sets a great example, indeed; I do not feel the government is in an appropriate position to mandate this in the porn industry any more than it makes sense to me for it to require that characters in all movies wear seat belts. Maggie alludes to one of my biggest reasons for this, which is that movies are not supposed to be the inspiration for how we practice safety in our lives—which is good because it doesn’t seem they’d be a helpful one. Again, I personally advocate using condoms in porn to demonstrate their sexiness and importance, but I don’t want porn to be officially held up as an example of how people should have sex. It seems to me legally mandating condom use in porn is acting in just that way (though I doubt proponents would see it that way! It is purported to be for performers’ health, which I frankly simply don’t buy), and that strikes me as misguided.
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“Organized Labor’s Newest Heroes: Strippers” by Melissa Gira Grant (Sex Work, Labor Rights) 11/19/12
I find it refreshing to read about sex workers in the context of actual labor, mainly because it’s often seemed to me people have forgotten or simply not realized that sex work is indeed a job and does have labor considerations just like others do. As far as the content of the article, of course, I am glad to hear/read of strippers making strides in the area of labor rights.
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