Sex Work Today
Erotic Labor in the Twenty-First Century
The fresh, informative essays collected in Sex Work Today concern challenges faced by those engaging in modern erotic labor.
According to the authors in this collection, the stigma and stereotypes surrounding erotic labor often obscure the truth about the industry and those who work in it. These essays shed light on different kinds of sex work, from sugaring (dating a wealthy, older individual for gifts and money) to full-service work and pornography. They support the collective thesis that deconstructing harmful myths helps marginalized individuals both within and outside of the industry.
The essays are written by academics and activists, many of whom either have personal experience with sex work or have conducted extensive interviews with those who do. This lends credence and compassion to their words. Their studies cover an array of fascinating and pertinent topics, from how new technologies have altered sex work to the reasons behind the high rate of job satisfaction among dominatrices. All essays strive for inclusivity, examining how factors like race, gender, and sexuality influence workers’ ability to make a living in a safe environment and society’s perception of those workers. Others confront the persistent threat of hostile political groups who conflate sex trafficking with sex work, which hurts everyone and helps no one, least of all trafficked workers.
With clear care for the people they write about, the essayists suggest possible solutions to various problems, such as finding ways to promote cam performers of color and providing a guide map for strippers to attain workplace protections. The book’s broad variety of topics and its commitment to the sex workers’ rights slogan cited by multiple authors—“Nothing about us without us”—make this an indispensable volume.
Sex Work Today is a revelatory, in-depth essay collection that allows sex workers to speak for themselves about the benefits, risks, and complexities of modern erotic labor.
Reviewed by
Eileen Gonzalez
Disclosure: This article is not an endorsement, but a review. The publisher of this book provided free copies of the book to have their book reviewed by a professional reviewer. No fee was paid by the publisher for this review. Foreword Reviews only recommends books that we love. Foreword Magazine, Inc. is disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
