Jill Nagle

I have always been on the fence about pornography. Feminist arguments against pornography and sex work have an intuitive appeal, while arguments for it seem to fit well with an era in which feminism hopes to reclaim not just a gender but a specifically sexual role of women in society. I mention this because in my case this was not simply a collection of politically motivated essays preaching to the choir. It has actually gone a long way towards convincing me of the positive social (not to mention sexual) aspects of enlightened conversations about sex work from sex workers themselves.

What strikes me most about this collection of essays and interviews is how effectively it manages to explore the multifarious nature of sex work. Women’s studies has struggled for a very long time to create a non-monolithic space for scholarship inclusive of all forms of women’s oppression which are specific to various race, class, sexual identities, etc. Many of the authors express frustration that the feminist anti-pornography stance reinforces that monolithic structure by assuming far too much about the nature of sex works and the psychology of the sex worker. They respond by describing their own experiences, as educated women willingly engaging in this work out of desire rather than desperation, and making it clear that the women and men they have bonded with in so doing are similarly motivated.

It is important to remember that the pro-feminist arguments for pornography and prostitution go far beyond simply “empowering” women to use their bodies. I was particularly struck by how frequently the authors describe their experience with sex work as being therapeutic for both themselves and their clients. Viewed from inside the practice and from such a wide variety of angles, sex work looks very different from its common media representation. If we could all see it this way the nature of sex work would dramatically change for the better and this collection is an excellent start. Highly recommended for anyone who *thinks* they know what sex work is about.… (mere)